Spectral (7 page)

“What
do
you do then? What was that bubble thing back in the bar you did? I didn’t appreciate that by the way,” I scowled.

“Don’t be so serious. You’ll get premature wrinkles like that.” He laughed and reached out and touched my forehead.

I fixed him a look, pushing his hand away.

“Okay, look. I have certain powers.” He looked at me as if for a reaction.

I gave none.

He threw his hands up in the air. “It’s like, stopping time but only for a short amount of time. I can’t sustain it for extended periods or anything.”

My mind swirled, unable to comprehend what he was saying. It was like out of some movie or something. “Stop time? For real?”

He made an x across his heart.

“But what was that bubble thing?”

“Now that I see your room, I would’ve thought you liked bubbles,” he teased. “Maybe if I’d have made the bubble pink, you’d have appreciated it more.” He rolled onto his back and folded his arms behind his head.

I looked at my walls and put my finger in my mouth, mock-gagging. “What was it?” I insisted. “The bubble I mean,” I wasn’t going to let him off that easy.

“A protective barrier—a shell. I wanted you to listen to me a minute.”

“What did you want to tell me?” My chest tightened and I stared at him, observing his features as he spoke.

Roman sat back up and took me by the hand pulling me to a sitting position beside him.

“You’re not safe here, Jewel.”

“What do you mean I’m not safe here? And how do you know my name?”

“I can’t tell you.”

I raised both my eyebrows at him. “You can’t tell me?” Now I was seething.

“No.” He squeezed my hand tighter. “But we need to leave.”

I jerked my hand away. “Leave? And
why
can’t you tell me?”

“Some things are better left unsaid until the right time. But we don’t have much time. I need to get you someplace safe.”

I opened my mouth, then shut it. I didn’t like that he was holding back like I wasn’t able to take it or I was too stupid to understand. Just like my parents.

I found my words. “The right time? And let me guess—
you
decide the right time? About me. About my life? You’re pretty cocky aren’t you? And you’re not the only one who knows things, Roman.” I stood but kept my voice low, “I’ve been doing a little investigating myself.”

Roman pounced to his feet. “Investigating? How?”

Good. I’d gotten his attention. Maybe he’d take me seriously for a change. “Been reading up on stuff,” I shrugged. “Putting pieces together like a puzzle.” I stared down at my feet and then back up at him. “Something about a Spectral…”

Roman’s face grew ashen. “You’re in more danger than I first thought. You have to stop reading those things. You’re not supposed to know those things yet. It can only bring more trouble. What else do you know?”

“I’ll tell you what
I
know if you tell me what
you
know.” I cocked my head to one side and folded my arms across my chest.

“This isn’t a game, Jewel.” He took me by the shoulders startling me. “Tell me what you know.”

I shrugged out of his grasp. “All right, already. Something about witches and covens and the millennium Spectral witch who bears a mark…and on her seventeenth birthday goes all supernova…and well…I think I’m it. Is that about right?”

Roman looked like he was about to heave and suddenly I felt bad for him. “Well, yeah…something like that…but how did you find out? You know too much already. Please don’t dwell on those things or check into it anymore.” His voice sounded pleading as he pulled me into a tight embrace.

He felt so warm. My head rested against his chest, his heart pounding below my ear. Warm breath fanned against my hair and Roman’s arms around me trembled. All of that, along with his shaky voice, and the way he hugged me as if I were the most precious thing ever, made me realize something.

He really cares. About me
.
But why?

I inhaled his scent and gazed up into his troubled eyes that now stared intensely down at me. I stood on my tip-toes so that I was closer to his lips, heart fluttering. Roman palmed either side of my face in his hands. My eyes wandered to his lips, imagining them on mine.

“Jewel?” My father’s voice came from outside my bedroom door. Instantly, Roman let me go, and held his hand up to the door. He dashed to the window.

“You’ve got one minute before the spell breaks,” he warned as he climbed out onto the ladder.

I leapt into bed, and tugged the blankets up around my neck. I concentrated on making my breathing even. I heard the door creak open but kept my eyes closed. “Jewel?” I heard again, but ignored it. After a moment, the door closed. I released a long breath.

I glanced over to the window but Roman was gone. I held my hands to my face and inhaled. His distinct scent lingered, tickling my nose. I glanced at the clock. It was 3:52. My body screamed for sleep, but my mind screamed for answers. A number of deep, twisting fears invaded me. And after talking to Roman, my becoming the Spectral was the one that scared me the least.

Chapter Ten

I was running late for school Monday morning having overslept. Horrible thoughts raced through my mind at night and the few moments I managed to steal for sleep were haunted by horrifying nightmares. I forced myself to not open the Ancient Witchcraft book on Sunday or think of anything to do with it or my crazy life. I told myself I would take one day of a mental holiday. Just one. I deserved that, I reasoned.

Roman came back to my window the next night but I wouldn’t let him in. I had a migraine that pounded relentlessly and I knew he would just give me more things to worry about or ask me to leave with him again. I knew I couldn’t leave. I wouldn’t leave. I would never leave Jayden. My parents were doing a fine job protecting me up until then, and I had no reason to doubt that would change.

I dashed over the curb and toward the entranceway, noting the dark clouds scuttling across the sky. My sneakers squeaked against the floor of the mostly vacant hallway, my backpack slung over one shoulder. I made sure to pack the Ancient Witchcraft book that morning, for fear someone in my family would find it. I ran my hand over my dark hair that now sprung out wildly from its ponytail and fumbled with my wrinkly shirt. I groaned. Just when I was getting on track with a little style, I turned into night of the living dead.

Classes were about to begin and I ran, not wanting to be late and any more of a spectacle than I already was, when suddenly I tripped on something and went flying through the air. I landed on my knees with a thud and fell forward until my face hit the floor. Hard. My backpack flew through the air and landed with a bang, several feet away.

I looked up and saw Olivia. Her best friend, Amy, was in her usual place by her side. They were walking away, then stopped, Olivia turned her head over her shoulder smirking at me.

“Klutz,” she snickered and Amy laughed.

I knew she tripped me. I rubbed my jaw, thinking how I would end up with an enormous bruise, and crawled to my backpack when I saw that the Ancient Witchcraft book had flung out of it when Cruella tripped me.

I squinted up at Olivia. “Just leave me alone.”

She twisted around and placed her hands on her hips. “And what are you gonna do about I—” her words broke off and her face turned pale. She wasn’t smirking anymore. Her eyes fixed on the floor in front of me.

I looked to see what was freaking her out so much, and saw the culprit was my book. The snake on the cover had come to life. The serpent coiled and twirled around the dagger. I blinked, hardly believing what I was seeing. Its eyes glowed as its tongue slid from between its fangs. The snake hissed.

Olivia and Amy backed away, jaws gaping.

My hands trembled but I grabbed the book by the edge and tossed it into my backpack. The moment I touched the book, the snake returned to its original emblem.

“What the—” Amy gawked.

“What
are
you, some kind of
freak
?” Olivia spun around, grabbed Amy’s arm, and took off.

“Apparently,” I murmured under my breath.

The bell rang. Sighing, I stood and picked up my bag and headed to class. I snuck in and took a seat in front of Taylor, thankful the teacher didn’t notice.

Taylor leaned forward and whispered in my ear. “What happened to you?”

“No sleep. And Olivia.”

“She’s just jealous.”

I faked a smile. I knew Taylor was just trying to be nice. Saying Olivia was jealous was like something people say when they’re trying to make you feel better. I couldn’t imagine anyone being jealous of me. Let alone Little Miss Perfect.

And then I saw Roman. He watched me, a look of concern spreading across his face.
Yeah I’m late.
Some guardian you are.
I rubbed my jaw that had begun to swell and buried my head into my book.

After class, I eyed my reflection in the mirror inside of my locker. My raven colored hair looked frazzled, the dark circles under my eyes appeared corpse-like, and sure enough, a bruise was forming on my jaw. I pulled my hair out of my ponytail with a groan, rummaged through my bag for a brush, and gave my hair a quick fix. Not great, but better.

“Hey, Maple Leaf.” I heard Chase’s voice come up behind me. I turned to look at him and then twisted away when I saw the shocked look on his face.

He touched my shoulder. “Hey, what happened to your jaw?”

I shrugged. “Just clumsy, I guess.”

“You’re hardly clumsy. I’ve seen you play basketball, remember?”

Busted.

“Let’s go and get you some ice.” He looked genuinely concerned and with the throbbing pain in my jaw, I didn’t think ice was such a bad idea. I closed my locker and followed him to the nurse’s room. “Something you wanna talk about?” he asked.

“Not really,” I muttered as we walked by a group of kids in the hall. I saw Olivia in the crowd and she glared as we went by.

“Why does she hate me so much?” I whispered.

Chase followed my gaze. “Olivia? Well, she’s my ex and she doesn’t like me talking to any girls, I guess.”

“For real? Your ex?” I just couldn’t imagine Chase with a girl like her. She seemed so snobby and he seemed so down to earth. I caught him glowering at her and I grabbed his arm. “Please don’t egg her on,” I begged as we turned down the hall toward the nurse’s office.

“Don’t let her get to you. Olivia pretty much hates everyone except for her one girl posse.”

“Amy?”

He nodded. “Yep. Hatred’s funny. It eats at anything good left inside you like a cancer growing until all you have left is a black abyss of nothingness.” Chase opened the door to the nurse’s office and ushered me inside.

“Deep…” I lifted my lip in disgust. “Unfortunately she’s still pretty, even though she’s a bitch.”

“Not as cute as you.”

I snorted. “Seriously, you need glasses. Have you seen me today?”

“You’re just having a bad day, but underneath the war wounds you’re still pretty cute.”

The nurse rushed over, obviously catching sight of my purpling jaw and escorted me to a chair. She crouched in front of me with a gasp. “What happened?”

“Just fell, no big deal.”

Chase leaned against the wall, looking as beautiful as ever with his blond hair perfectly styled, dressed in his usual athletic gear.

The nurse placed an icepack against my jaw. “Okay young man. I’ll take it from here.”

“You sure you’ll be okay?” Chase asked over his shoulder as he walked to the door.

“Yeah. No surgery required,” I said with a laugh. “Thanks, Chase.”

“No prob. See ya later.”

Chase left and I closed my eyes, slumping back into my chair. I held the ice to my face as the nurse went back to her desk. It felt like a train had hit me. Still, the anxious feeling in my stomach wouldn’t go away.

My mind whirled. I desperately wanted to know the answers to my life and yet a part of me didn’t. But living in denial wasn’t helping either. I didn’t know how to get all the answers though. My parents wouldn’t tell me. Roman wasn’t coughing up much. He wouldn’t even tell me how he knew my name. I didn’t understand.

A draft of air brushed over me and I sensed movement beside me. I opened my eyes and saw Roman standing beside me. I sat up.

His lips formed a straight line. “Who did that to you?”

“Nobody. I just fell.”

He crouched down, removed the ice from my jaw, and leaned in for a better look. His eyes smoldered as he replaced the ice. “Don’t lie.”

“It’s fine, really.”

The nurse spoke up. “Excuse me. Roman, is it?” She gave him a steely glare. “You can’t be in here.”

Roman groaned and put his palm up to the nurse, freezing her in place where she stood, mouth gaping.

“Not again,” I moaned.

“Jewel, listen to me.” His eyes bore into mine, hot and hypnotizing. “Just come with me for the day. I promise to bring you home.”

“Come with you where?” I shook my head. “We’ve got school.”

“They won’t miss us. I promise.”

“Thought you couldn’t sustain it for long…”

“Long enough.” He lifted a ribbon of hair away from my face. “Will you trust me?”

I remembered him holding me the other night in my room, how good it felt and of how he trembled with obvious concern for me.

I nodded.

He held his hand palm up. I took it.

***

I shivered against the thick falling rain, wishing I’d worn something more than a light t-shirt. Roman handed me his jacket and I hesitated a moment before giving in and wrapping it around me. His distinct scent surrounded me and I couldn’t help but smile.

The school buses lined the school parking lot and we strolled down the stairs and past several students who stood motionless and oblivious to our being there. Taylor’s arms remained frozen around Jack’s neck, and Chase stood mid-step on the stairs.

“Are you kidding me?” I asked. I waved my hand in front of Chase’s unmoving eyes. “We just can’t leave them out here in the rain. They’ll catch a cold or something.”

“They’ll be fine, I promise,” Roman pointed to a black Chrysler 300.

I widened my eyes. “Yours?”

Roman reached in his pocket, pulled out a set of keys, jangled them in the air, and pressed a button on the key fob until the car beeped and the headlights blinked. “Nope.” He grinned.

“Smart ass,” I tried not to smile.

He opened the passenger door for me and ran around to the driver seat as I climbed in.

“Honestly, Roman, where are you taking me?” I asked as he got in.

“Somewhere quiet where we can talk. The beach?”

“The beach on a day like today?” I turned to face him and gave him my biggest “are you nuts?” face.

“I said somewhere quiet, right? Who goes to the beach on a day like today?”

“Just weirdoes like us, I guess.” I pushed my wet hair away from my face. “So you gonna tell me what it is that I’m not safe from?” I looked up to the dark sky which threatened a storm. “Other than being struck by lightning, that is.”

Roman laughed and put the car into fourth as he hit the highway at full speed.

“Easy, Earnhardt. I thought you were supposed to protect me, not scare the hell outta me.”

He reached over and squeezed my hand a second.

A sick feeling crept through me and I wondered who Roman really was. I began to worry I’d read things all wrong and maybe it was him I should be scared of. I eyed the door handle but then gave my head a shake trying to reassure myself everything was fine.

Up ahead, I saw a sign at the side of the road that read Megan’s Cove
.
Roman geared down, pulled over, and drove down a winding, narrow road. The trees towered over us like a canopy, their leaves soaked and spitting water. A heavier onslaught of torrential rain pooled on the windshield until Roman set his wipers on high speed. Their whipping sound mimicked my heart rate. Roman turned onto an even narrower, bumpy path. It veered to the left and the car shook back and forth in protest.

“Hey, where’re you going? Turn around,” I demanded.

Roman slowed down but kept going. “Not much farther, Jewel, I promise.”

When he finally put the car in park, a nervous energy buzzed across my skin. The trees surrounding us seemed to shake with the rolling thunder. I gathered my courage. “Who are you and what do you want from me?” I blurted, turning to face him. “I don’t trust you—this,” I stammered.

His intense, brown eyes focused in on me as he shifted in his seat toward me. “Paranoid much?”

I undid my seatbelt. “Seriously, Roman. Enough is enough. Stop stalling. Why did you bring me all the way out here anyway?”

“Privacy. To keep our thoughts and conversation private.”

“Look who’s paranoid now.” I turned away gazing out my window.

After a moment, he placed his hand on my shoulder gently. “I’m your guardian. I’ve been sent from my own coven of the Augusti Forza. We’re not so different than your coven.”

I turned back to face him. “Up until recently, I didn’t even know I
came
from a coven.”

Roman leaned back in his seat. “Yeah, I know. I guess your parents have been trying to protect you.”

“From what exactly?”

“Other covens.”

I trembled involuntarily from fright. “Other covens?” I widened my eyes. “What do you mean? And wait—you said you yourself are from another coven.” I leaned away from him and shot him a scowl. “What’s Augusti Forza mean anyway?”

“First of all, relax. I’m not the enemy. The term Augusti Forza comes from a long time ago. The name Augustus means elevated one and was awarded to some guy named Octavian in recognition of his unique status and extraordinary range of powers or whatever. And then
forza
means like force or strength. Anyway, look, can you please trust me? I said we’re not so different than your coven, but we’re not exactly the same either.” He sighed. “You’re not supposed to know too much yet, but since you’ve been snooping, it’s a little late for that. And I wanna tell you but I don’t want you to freak or anything, okay?”

I swallowed loud enough for him to hear but kept my gaze on him. “Okay,” I said, trying to sound assured. I relapsed back to the feeling of wanting to know, but not wanting to know at the same time. My stomach twirled in anticipation.

Roman reached out and took my hand, adding to the butterfly effect in my stomach, but for obviously different reasons. “Well, since you found out about the whole Spectral thing already, you should know that everything you said about it is true.” He lowered his gaze to my hand that had settled into his, and stroked his thumb against my palm. “But because you’re the Spectral, it makes you a very valuable and powerful part of a coven, and well—other covens don’t really want you to exist.” He slowly raised his big brown eyes back to mine.

“Don’t want me to
exist
? Like, as in they want me dead?” I felt the blood drain from my face.

He squeezed my hand. “I’m not gonna let that happen, okay?”

I blinked fast in disbelief. “But why do they want me to—not exist?”

“When you go through your quickening, you will become extremely powerful, Jewel, as you already found out. Bottom line—your coven will be untouchable. Every coven dreams to be the one with a Spectral born into it.”