Spectral (15 page)

Chapter Eighteen

Pacing back and forth in front of my open window, Willow weaved in and around my legs seeming almost as anxious as I was. Roman had promised to return at nine to explore the Ancient Witchcraft book together, but it was already ten-thirty and he was a no-show. What if something had happened to him? A sinking feeling crept through me, and I also worried that everything I feared was coming true.

I couldn’t wait anymore. I didn’t have much time. Roman had promised the Augusti Forza he’d turn me in within the week, and I had to find that dagger
now
. All my life I’d followed along with what everybody else said was best for me. It was getting old—and getting me nowhere. My eyes darted to my backpack slung over my desk chair. I reached for it, lifted the flap, and jerked the book out, placing it on the floor beside my bed.

I ran my fingers across the tattered edge, looking at the snake coiled around the dagger emblem. It looked harmless enough.

Flipping through the pages, I came to a chapter entitled: Spells and Sorcery.

The first page looked like a recipe. The heading read:
Courage in a bottle.
Below was the recipe:
1 tsp. sage, 9 drops lavender, 2 drops jasmine oil, 1 strand of your hair, 1 cup apple cider, a pinch of catnip, and a dash of cayenne pepper. Blend together and drink in one continuous motion.

Below it were words to be recited directly after. They looked like gibberish. It must have been a joke.
Catnip? Hair?
Anybody who’d drink that crap would already have to be courageous. No spell required. I rolled my eyes.

The next page read even stranger. This time the spell proclaimed to grant the power of persuasion.
Seriously
? “Now that would be sick to have the endowment of persuasion,” I said aloud.

Underneath the title, it read:

If you do not believe in the occult and magic, then I recommend you stay away from it. Word to the wise: magic is not a game or something to just dabble in or play with.

Oh yeah, I
believe in magic.
I rubbed my hands up and down my arms. Dominique’s muffled scream echoed in my ears and I remembered Massimo and the fog he created that swallowed the car whole.

Knowing there was no turning back at that point, I read the inscription out loud. “Hear my words, you cannot resist. They surge your heart through your skin as mist. Heed my bidding, follow my goal, its every whisper murmurs into your soul.”

I slammed the cover shut. “Seriously, dude,” I whispered, staring at the snake poignantly. “Catnip and misty words aren’t gonna cut it. Definitely won’t help get me to my own Spectral quickening.”

A gust of wind blew fiercely in through the window blowing my hair back from my face. The snake opened its eyes; its forked tongue slithered toward me with a hiss.

I jumped, startled, but then gritted my teeth and lifted my pointer finger. “Yeah, look familiar? You bit me, remember? I need to find the dagger. You know, looks a lot like you, but life size?” I couldn’t believe I was talking to the book, but then again, it wasn’t any normal book.

Another gush of wind surged across my room. Growling, I jumped up to close the window, but before I did, the book flipped open, its pages parting near the middle.

I reached down to pick it up. As my fingers brushed against the page, the words moved around, shifting, and then lifted about an inch into the air. I gasped, but dropped to my knees, and pressed my hands on the edges of the pages to keep the book open.

The floating letters took on shapes.
A drawing.
My mouth fell open. It was a stone house, large and looming. More letters sucked together leaving the pages empty and only the drawing floating toward me into the air. A path stretched out in front of the house, and a wrought-iron gate materialized.

“Taylor’s house!” I blurted out, and then clasped my hand over my mouth.
Could that be where the dagger is? How is that even possible?
The moment I said the words, the drawing came together like wet ink in mid-air, and then dropped to the page as before.

“What
about
Taylor’s house?”

I looked up to the window and saw Roman perched on the ladder, staring at me quizzically.

“Did you see that?” I widened my eyes.

“See what?” Roman climbed in and I walked toward him.

“The book…it…and…” I looked back and the book sat unmoving like any normal book.

“And what?”

I smiled at Roman, brushing it aside and hoping to distract him. “And you’re late,” I said, giving him a light punch in the arm.

“And you’re hot.” He chuckled as he drew me into his arms, nuzzling his head into the hollow between my shoulder and neck.

He came back
. My heart skipped a beat and tingles radiated over my skin as he gently kissed up my neck, pausing to nibble on my earlobe.

I jumped into his arms and wrapped my legs around his waist. He held me up with one arm, and with the other, he traced patterns on the bare skin of my leg, sending shivers through me.

Bending my head, I placed my lips on his, my heart started racing. My hair tumbled in a curtain around our faces. His familiar scent was intoxicating. It was amazing how all my worries seemed to melt away when he kissed me.

His tongue met mine and passion rushed through me as his lips crushed over mine. Hot, searing, heart-racing kisses. He walked with me in his arms toward my bed, my legs still twisted tightly around his waist gripping him, our mouths never separating. He tasted like cinnamon and it filled me with an insatiable hunger.

A soft moan passed my lips as he laid me back on the bed. His deep soulful eyes met mine as he flashed a smile, obviously liking my response.

“You make me crazy, you know that?” he whispered against my mouth, before sliding his tongue across my bottom lip softly and then slipping it inside my mouth again. I weaved my fingers into his hair, pulling him toward me until there was no air between us.

After a couple minutes of kissing, he rolled over and grinned at me mischievously, igniting the dimple in his right cheek. Kissing Roman was surreal and filled me with so much emotion it was almost painful. There was something hauntingly fascinating about him—something in the depth of his melted chocolate eyes—that said I still had so much to learn. Layers of discoveries that I completely enjoyed stripping away, and I never wanted to stop until I removed every last one.

“So, you gonna tell me?” he asked, breaking me out of my trance. “What were you saying about Taylor’s house?” He ran both hands back through his hair.

Yeah that.

I gave my head a little shake and kissed his dimple as I slid past him and sat at the edge of the bed, back to reality. “The dagger. I think it’s at her house.”

He widened his eyes and sat up beside me. “Really? Why do you think that?”

“It’s a long story,” I jerked my thumb toward the Ancient Witchcraft book. “But I think there’s a lot more to that dinosaur than I first thought.”

Roman stared down at the book a moment, and then back at me. “I’ll take your word for it. Let’s go.”

“Now?” I tilted my head. “Do you think we can just break into Taylor’s house?”

“We don’t need to break in, remember?” he raised his hand.

I reached up, closing my hand over his. “I know, I know, but technically it’s still breaking in.” Frustrated, I shifted my gaze past him. I knew he was right. I never imagined becoming a burglar, but there was a strong possibility something that belonged to me was in that house. I was only taking back what was mine. I gave a slow nod. “Fine.”

His eyes brightened. “You better pack a small bag, too.”

I took a deep breath. If we found the dagger we’d leave town. I knew that and I accepted it. I was anxious to find my real parents and hopefully start a new life where I belonged.

Still…my eyes wandered towards my doorway. “Give me a minute?”

Roman nodded, and then reached over giving me a peck on the lips.

I scooped up Willow and crept across the hallway toward the front of the house and snuck into Jayden’s room. He was tucked in bed, cuddled up to the build-a-bear stuffed monkey I’d bought him for his fourth birthday.

Setting Willow on the bed next to him, I kissed the top of her head and whispered, “Take care of him for me, ‘kay?” Willow meowed. I liked to think she understood. I knew Karina and Viktor were Jayden’s real parents, but I wished I could still take him with me. They didn’t deserve him. But I had to sort out my own life first. “I promise I’ll come back for you, Buddy,” I whispered.

I lay down and pressed the monkey’s hand. My recorded voice came ringing out.
Happy fourth birthday, Jayden! I love you
!

Jayden opened his eyes and smiled. “I love you, too,” he said sleepily. He tucked the monkey under his chin, closing his eyes again.

If I made it through my quickening alive, I promised myself I’d find a way to get back to Jayden. But the reality was that may not be possible no matter how hard I tried. I, of all, people knew how good my parents were at hiding.

A lump grew in my throat making it almost impossible to swallow. I stood over his bed watching him breathe for a moment before bending down and kissing his forehead.

I could’ve sworn I heard something shatter into a million pieces. I think it was my heart.

Chapter Nineteen

After stuffing some clothes into my backpack along with the Ancient Witchcraft book, Roman and I headed down the ladder. High above, the bloated white moon gleamed down on us, shining across the wet grass.

We crept through the shadows, skirting in and out of bushes and around the orange tree. I brushed my fingers against the rough edges of the bark as we passed, reliving the day we arrived and I had stared out into the backyard. I was right when I thought I wouldn’t be around to see the oranges grow.

That day seemed like a lifetime ago. I was no longer the naïve girl in a family full of secrets. As nervous as it felt being aware of what my future could hold; knowing I was dealing with it on my own terms made adrenaline and pride course through my veins. I wasn’t sure if I’d live to see my seventeenth birthday, but I wouldn’t give up without a fight.

I slid my hand into Roman’s as we crept down the back street to his car. He gave it a squeeze before releasing it and opening the passenger door. He pressed the door gently closed, and snuck around to the driver side.

As Roman drove away, he gave me a sideways glance, his face serious. “Listen, Jewel,” he said, his voice low and urgent, “I’m really sorry about all of this—everything. You don’t deserve it. I wish my coven could know the
real
you. I know you wouldn’t hurt anybody.”

“It’s okay, Roman, honestly.” I reached over, running my fingers along his forearm. “I’m glad
you
believe that at least.”

I twirled a strand of hair around my finger as I stared out the window into the night. I hoped he was right about me not being able to hurt anybody—anybody undeserving that is.

Taylor’s house loomed in the darkness, lit up like the White House at night. Past the opened gates, several cars filled the driveway.

“Great. There’s a bunch of people here,” I moaned as Roman pulled to the side of the road and turned off the engine.

Roman strummed his fingers against the steering wheel. “We either sit it out ‘til they leave, or take our chances now and try to sneak in.”

“Hold on,” I said, tugging my cell phone from my pocket. “Let me text Taylor.” I flipped it open. “Snap! I turned off my phone when I was searching for the dagger.” The phone had powered up, followed by a series of notifying beeps. “Taylor’s about to send out a search party. Check this out.”

There were three texts. The first one said:
Hey True! Party at my house 2morrow night. Can u make it?

The second one:
Where r u?? Call me back!

And the third one with a time stamp of an hour before:
R u ok?? Seriously sick hotties here n Mom’s out of town. ;) Where r u girl?

Roman’s face flushed when I read the last text.
Is he jealous
?

I smiled. “Up for a party?” I asked with a smirk. “At least it gets us in.”

Roman groaned. “That’s true I guess. But we gotta stay focused.”

I gasped dramatically, placing my hand over my mouth. “What, you don’t want to dance with me?”

Roman unlatched my seatbelt and tugged me across the seat. He nibbled my cheek and then placed his lips on mine in soft, playful kisses. Nudging his nose against mine, he added, “All the time—after I get you safely through your seventeenth.”

“I’m holding you to that,” I teased, pulling back and then texting Taylor that we were coming.

Within a few moments, she replied.
:D Awesome! Front gate is open. C u soon!

Music blasted out through the open windows as we approached the front doorstep. I pressed the doorbell and braced myself for the artic freeze of Taylor’s house as a fancy chime rang out.

The door flung open and the pulsing music surged out. Taylor, dressed in a hot pink spaghetti-strapped top and a black miniskirt, smiled from ear to ear.

“You came! I’m so excited!” she squealed, as she bounced up and down. “Where have you been, chicky?”

She pulled me into a tight embrace and then held me back by one shoulder sizing me up. “You couldn’t dress up even for a party?” she teased. “C’mon, let me do a makeover for you. Just this once?” she pleaded before tossing back whatever was in her cup. I thought she maybe had a bit too much already. She was even more exuberant than usual.

I laughed. “Taylor, this is Roman,” I flicked my chin toward him and widened my eyes, reminding her to say hello.

“Hi, nice to meet you,” Taylor smiled. “Do ya mind if I steal her away just for a few minutes? Everyone’s in the kitchen hanging out. Grab a drink if you want, and make yourself at home.”

Before Roman had a chance to speak, Taylor grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the stairs. I winked at him over my shoulder. I hoped he would take the opportunity to look for the dagger.

“This could take a while,” I added for effect.

Roman nodded and then looked around, mouth gaping. It was the same reaction I’d had when I saw the museum of a house.

Taylor pulled me into her room and spun around. “You like?”

“Yeah, you look wicked hot.”

“Thanks! And I’m so glad you came. Seriously, my mom’s away and I’m alone for the weekend.” She bit her lower lip, “I’m hoping she’s with Dad. She wouldn’t tell me where she was going. Maybe she didn’t want to get my hopes up?”

“Maybe,” I said. I honestly felt bad for Taylor. I wished I could be a better friend. Guilt rushed through me. The only reason I was there was to snoop through her house, find the dagger and get out of there. She deserved better than that. But I wasn’t able to give it to her.

I cleared my throat. “So what’re ya gonna do to me, oh Fairy Godmother?” I bowed and fanned my hands through the air.

“Right!” Taylor tore across the room to her closet and began rummaging through it. “I bought you a whole new outfit for a birthday present! Sorry it’s not wrapped yet—I wasn’t gonna give it to you until the big day.” She looked over her shoulder and grinned at me, “But it’s perfect for tonight.” She pulled out a Marciano bag, and with a smile whipped out a pair of black skinny jeans with small silver zippers at the ankles.

I laughed. “Oh, Taylor, you seriously didn’t have to do that.” They were cute but totally not like anything I’d worn before. My parents usually shopped at Target or Wal-Mart for my clothes.

“I know. But I rock, admit it,” she said with a giggle. “And…” She took out a jade green fitted top, laid it on the bed, and then pulled a shoe box out from her closet. She lifted the cover revealing a pair of black heels. “Hey, I remembered your favorite color! And the top and shoes go with the jeans.”

I widened my eyes. “That’s way too much!” I’d never had clothes like that before. My face flushed in embarrassment, and I pressed my palms against my cheeks.

“Don’t feel bad, True. I get a big allowance and you’re totally worth it.”

I hugged her. “Thanks, and yes, you definitely rock.” I laughed.

She twisted around until her back was to me. “Okay, okay. Change already. I know you’re shy. I won’t look.”

I changed into the black jeans that fit me perfectly. I slid my hands over the soft material, sighing.

“They don’t fit?” Taylor asked, peeking over her shoulder with a pout.

“Yeah they fit perfectly. I love them. One sec.”

Taylor turned back around. “’Kay.”

I reached for the top, hauled off mine, and pulled the new one over my head. It had a round neck and capped sleeves just long enough to cover my birthmark. “Okay, you can look now.”

Taylor twisted around and smiled so big I thought her face would break. “You look great! Shoes now!” She clapped her hands in excitement, pulled them out of the box and handed them to me.

“How did you know my size?” I asked, slipping them on. I felt super tall now that I was standing about 5’11”.

“I notice all the fashion details. Besides, I take a size seven shoe, too. I have an eagle eye.” She winked. “’Kay, c’mon sit down and let me fix your make-up.”

I really wanted to get going but thought buying Roman extra time to look for the dagger wouldn’t hurt. I plopped down on the edge of the bed. “Go for it,” I said, running my fingers across the soft duvet. “You really should go into fashion or design, Taylor.”

She pulled out three massive make-up bags from her nightstand and placed them next to me on the bed. When she looked up, her eyes were alive, but then just as quickly the spark went out. “I totally want to,” she said, her voice breaking. “But Mom wants me to go into like paranormal investigation or something.” She rolled her eyes.

I stiffened involuntarily. “There’s a university course on that?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even.

Taylor looked away and dug through a make-up bag full of eye shadows. “Ah, here you are!” She held up a silver-gray shadow. “MAC’s Knight Devine. This one will look perfect with those smoky eyes of yours.” She dragged a brush through the compressed powder. “Close,” she instructed.

I closed my eyes.

Taylor released a long, troubled sigh. “I don’t know where she expects me to learn about it.” She ran the brush across my top lash line. “First it was astronomy, then antiques, now paranormal activity investigation. She’s gotten into all this weird stuff lately. That’s why Dad thinks she’s psychotic.” She inhaled deeply.

I wanted to tell her that her mom may not be psychotic after all and that paranormal stuff really did exist. But then again, her mother knowing that didn’t mean she wasn’t psychotic. Besides, if I told her, she’d probably think I was just as crazy as her mom. And I couldn’t risk her knowing the truth about me.

After she rimmed my eyes with the smoky shadow, she added mascara, bronzer, and lip-gloss. I smacked my lips together. “All done?” I asked.

“True?” She touched my arm lightly.

“Yeah?”

“Your grandmother was here with my mom the other day for a long time,” she paused and bit her lip. “No offence or anything, but it was after Mom met your family that she got
extra
strange.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. I would have believed that being around Aunt Eva would make anyone strange, or at least act awkward, but not so much Grandma. “Sorry about that. Guess they’re all into weird stuff. Must come with old age,” I said with a laugh trying to brush it off.

I wondered if Aunt Eva was telling Grandma Raine to ask Taylor’s mom to do something…besides hide the dagger.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Let’s go downstairs, huh?”

“One more thing, Cinderella.” She pointed at my head. “You definitely need to ditch the ponytail tonight.” She pulled my black hair out from the elastic and brushed it, letting it cascade down my back in soft waves.

Tugging me up off her bed, she ushered me in front of the Cheval mirror standing in the corner of her room. The floorboards vibrated from the pulsating music beneath my feet.

“Check that out!” she squealed.

I smiled at my reflection in the mirror. “Is that really me?” I had to admit, she did a great job taking me from Plain Jane to fab in like fifteen minutes. She was right about the eye shadow accentuating my eyes, too. They looked like pools of liquid steel. “You definitely need to go into fashion. Forget paranormal.” I flicked my hand dismissively through the air and then turned, hugging her. “Thanks, Tay. You’re an awesome friend.”

I wanted to tell her I’d miss her, and that she was the first really good friend I’d ever had. But I couldn’t. Instead, I cleared my throat and swallowed hard, willing the knot in my stomach to go away. I gave her a peck on the cheek and tugged her by the hand out into the hall.

The massive staircase was packed. A lot more people had arrived since we’d gone upstairs. Somebody had dimmed the lights and now shadows danced across the walls in eerie shapes. The music blared through the boisterous house as we squeezed through the mass of bodies.

The air was hot and sticky; something I didn’t imagine Taylor’s house could ever be. She’d obviously turned off the air-conditioning, and with the crowd and the open windows, it had heated up fast. Somebody really needed to teach that girl about temperature control.

I held Taylor’s hand behind me and weaved in and out of people and down the stairs. One guy tipped his beer bottle toward me as we past. He leaned against the golden sarcophagus chatting up a junior I vaguely recognized.

Taylor screamed something in my ear about getting more wine and scooted past me. She waved her hand in the air, motioning for me to follow her into the kitchen. I wasn’t used to wearing four inch heels, so I decided to walk instead of chasing her. I didn’t want to risk falling flat on my face.
Where are you, Roman
? I scanned the room searching for him.

In the middle of the crowded kitchen, Chase sat on the island. Olivia stood in front of him, her hands on his knees. She looked so content while talking to him that I was sure if I could hear her it would have sounded like a cat purring. I couldn’t blame her though. The boy looked pretty hot with his blond hair, tanned skin, and deep blue eyes. Not to mention his athletic bod.

I turned to leave but not before Chase caught my eye and jumped off the counter.

The smile on Olivia’s face dropped faster than a person bungee jumping off a cliff. Her hands fell to her sides and she glared at me.

Chase looked equally shocked, just in a different way. “One word. Wow!” he said as he reached me. He lifted an eyebrow and gave me the once over. Twice. He placed one hand on top of the other flat against his chest. “Heartbreaker,” he said with a slow smile.

“That’s two words,” I joked. I averted my eyes, surveying the room. Taylor was off in the corner with Jack and a couple of other people from our class. Amy had taken Olivia’s side by the island, watching our every movement, and the back patio door was open. I looked through it and saw a few people swimming and diving into the pool.

Still no sign of Roman. My heart started thumping louder in my chest.
Where is he
?

“You want a beer, Maple Leaf?” Chase asked, leaning in close so that I could hear him above the throbbing music. His breath tickled my cheek. “There’s a keg of draft and some light beer in the fridge. Or maybe some wine?” he asked.