Wicked Good Witches Three Book Box Set (Demon Street Blues, Alpha Knows Best, Bye Bye Bloodsucker) (14 page)

CHAPTER TWO

Eva Jordan jogged on a pathway through the woods, her stark white hair bounced behind her in a loose ponytail. She grinned coolly, wondering how the Howard Witches would react to the not so subtle message she’d left them in White Pines National Park last night.

“It should get Charlie good and riled,” she hoped desperately. She needed him to let his guard down so he would transform into a werewolf. If she didn’t succeed tonight, she’d have to wait another month until the next full moon to try again. She didn’t have that kind of time.

The sun was just rising, peeking over the densely grown forest that surrounded the path. The sun didn’t reach the ground though, giving it the appearance of being dusk.

Even with this dusk-like setting, Eva had no trouble seeing where she was going. She never missed a jutting root or rock, jumping over them with ease. Her gaze tightened suddenly, her head whipping abruptly as she ran, staring into the woods.

Something was running alongside her.

She ran faster.

Faster than a normal human should be able to run. Then again, she wasn’t completely human.

Whatever gave chase kept up her pace. 

Eva lunged into the woods without hesitation, landing on, and immobilizing her opponent in a single, smooth motion. She flipped over the body revealing a misshapen face. Upon seeing it, she rolled her eyes in annoyed apathy.

The man let loose a growl, baring his jagged teeth at her.

“Caleb,” she spoke dryly, releasing him.

He jumped up, his misshapen facial features changing as he did so. Thick hair on his face thinned and then vanished completely, and his jagged teeth shortened, his mouth transforming into a beguiling smile. “Hello, Eva,” he greeted.

“What the hell are you doing here? I told you not to come.”

“You have no control over me, Eva,” the man named Caleb retorted. “I am a bit sad you’re not happier to see me.”

“I’m on a job, Caleb. You know I work alone.”

“Ah, heck. I got bored, hopped the ferry and decided to look you up.”

“I don’t need your kind of trouble, Caleb. You should leave, now. The full moon’s tonight.”

“C’mon now. Don’t you want to have a little fun, like the old days?”

“No, Caleb. I don’t! Did you not just hear me say, I’m on a fucking job?”

“What happened to you anyway? You used to be so much fun.” He performed what was supposed to be a sultry dance to lure her instantly into his arms.

“Give it up, Caleb.” Eva worked back to the path, returning to her run. 

“You know, Eva, since you hooked back up with dear old daddy, you’re friggin’ boring. And kind of a bitch.”

“I am a bitch.”
Queen bitch come tonight…

Eva tried to ignore Caleb as she ran towards home, but he followed like an obedient dog, begging for a belly rub. Another thought arose quite suddenly, a possible solution to a problem she had not worked out yet. A hidden smile crossed her face, and she stopped abruptly. “You know what, Caleb, I changed my mind. I am in the mood for a little fun.” A devilish twinkle crept into her eyes.

Caleb returned her mischievous gaze with one of his own. “What did you have in mind, Eva baby?”

“Follow me and find out,” she enticed him wickedly.

CHAPTER THREE

Melinda knocked gently on William Wakefield’s locked iron door, in the basement of the Howard Mansion. “Can I get you anything?” She peeked through a grate in the door.

“No. Thank you, Melinda. It’s nearly over now.” He kept his gaze down, staring into the pages of a book.

The human blood he had drunk to help Emily just a day before still lingered in his body. Melinda knew William would not allow his self-made prison to be unlocked until he felt it was completely safe to do so.

Not that he wasn’t comfortable. He had created a mini version of his study in the cell, for when he needed to spend time inside.

She was just grateful she’d gotten some sleep last night. More importantly, dreamless sleep, both in the prophetic and steamy departments. Her head felt a tiny bit more on straight today. Worked-up-level down ever so slightly to, I might not explode any second, but it wouldn’t take much to get back there, level.

William sighed. So quietly, she could not hear him.
There’s that flutter…
the one still plaguing his thoughts with its meaning.

“I’m heading out,” she told him sounding uncertain.

“On your own?” He kept his gaze down. 

“Yeah. Thought I’d grab a coffee. Maybe take in some sea air.”

“That’s good,” he encouraged. “Perhaps tomorrow, I will join you.” 

“I’m always up for your company, William.”

He instantly regretted the offer. She would be fine going out on her own, and should be doing this more often. He wanted Melinda to spend more time with humans her own age. Actually, he needed her to.

Her infatuation with him was becoming difficult for him to handle, especially after indulging in human blood, which now dried up leaving him craving more. And Melinda’s smelled far too enticing. Even with many practiced years of being around humans, he dared not take any chances. At least not until he’d gotten to the bottom of this new, frustrating heart flutter of hers that drove him mad, and surfaced thoughts that were inappropriate for him to have toward any human, most of all, Melinda.

It was his duty to protect her. As he did with all Howards. His thoughts were not those of the protecting kind. 

“I’m leaving some animal blood for you, just in case you change your mind.” She slid the blood pack through the bars of his door and let it slide down to the floor.

He shot her a grateful nod, his eyes never leaving the book.

“Wish me luck,” she said uneasily.

William listened closely as she turned to leave. Her heart strummed and her breaths tightened. “You’ll do fine,” he called out, encouraging her. “I have complete faith in you, Melinda.”

“I just don’t have it in myself,” she muttered, realizing she’d said it loud enough for William to hear. She hastened away, not giving him a chance to reply.

He waited until the sound of her footsteps were out of earshot.

His gaze tore away from the book he gripped tightly, solid black eyes narrowing toward the door.

Having Melinda so close sent his blood craving into overdrive. He did not understand what had changed, why he suddenly found her blood so much more appealing than usual. Whenever he had human blood in any amount, there was a period of craving and withdrawal to suffer through.

More concerning, however, was if there had not been a locked iron door between them, he might not have kept his control. It took everything he had to remain calm and act as of everything was normal.

He’d lived over four hundred years and suddenly now, out of the blue, he was faced with something new. Something he had never experienced before. A feeling deep in his core he did not understand and could not put a name to. 

Yes, Melinda spending time with others would be good for them both.

His hungry eyes peered longingly at the animal blood pack. Before he could stop himself, he dragged his body across the floor ripping it open with his teeth, sucking it dry.

He licked his lips, tearing it open wide enough to lap at the lining, needing every single drop. William closed his eyes, relishing the thick slick coating his throat.

A horrified gurgle erupted from his lips.

Damn his vile need for blood! His lust for it!

He tossed the empty bag aside. Disgusted.

Blood would not, and could not, control him.

It was sustenance, simply that and nothing more.

The Howards trusted him. He could not do anything to break that trust. They were his only connection to a human existence. Without them, he was nothing. Just a thing. A thing that had lived much longer than any
thing
should.

They gave him purpose. Without them, he had no reason to continue going on... 

##

Melinda left the mansion, unsure where she was headed. The town already bustled with tourists. She stepped onto the cobblestone walkway, sucked in the salty sea air, and soon found herself at the Wicked Muddy Café. Grace, the gruff woman that owned the cafe stood behind the counter.

“Well looky here,” she reveled, upon seeing Melinda enter. “Twice in one week. I might just have to start givin’ you the local’s discount if this’n becomes a habit.”

The woman seemed in a good mood, so Melinda tried her best to make small talk.

“Good morning,
Grace.”
She was sure to emphasize that she remembered her name. “I think I do plan on visiting more often.” For some reason her voice sounded awkward, as if talking with someone that could not understand her. Melinda forced a smile, but as she reached into her pocket for cash, she accidentally swiped a pyramid of coffee gift packs, which went flying all over the floor.

She sighed, shaking her head. “I can’t even get a stupid cup of coffee without…” she mumbled the rest under her breath, bending down to pick up the mess.

Grace came around the corner.

“Look now. Don’t worry none about it. Been tellin’ myself for days that was gonna happen. Shouldn’t a put’em so damn close to the register.”

Grace watched Melinda’s poor attempts at picking up the mug gift packs and replacing them, without success.

“Why don’t you let me handle that?” Grace urged after a moment.

Melinda handed her the boxed mug she held, taking an embarrassed huff.

“You okay there?”

Melinda hadn’t expected her question and wasn’t sure how to respond. Seeing she wasn’t going to, Grace continued.

“You know, I knew your parents. Good folk. Took real good care of the people on this Isle.” She winked, with special meaning.

Melinda cocked her head to the side, taken aback. It had not dawned on her that Grace was a long time local that new about the Isle’s supernatural side.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you
knew
them.”

Grace headed back behind the counter. “They helped me out on more than one occasion,” she admitted quietly.

“Oh, well I’m glad they could help.”

“See, you’re relaxin’ already.” Grace smile broadened.

“Huh?”

“You’re a nervous wreck, Dearie. Just relax, you’re amongst friends here.”

Melinda just stared, unsure what to say.

“Look now, I can come off a bit harsh,” Grace explained. “Frankly though, once I like someone, well that’s just it. I like’em from that day on. And I like you. You just need a little practice at bein’ out and about again.”

The way she said it indicated Melinda had been the topic of conversation previously. She suddenly felt as if every eye in the room was watching her. They really had been talking about her these last few years… that weird girl that never comes out of the house. 

Melinda sucked in deeply. Her body wanted to run back home and lock herself away, alongside William. But her brain tried to reason.
Just give it some time. You can’t be that weird girl forever…

“Tell you what I’m gonna do,” Grace continued. “You pick yourself out a mug and write your name on it. Put it on that shelf over there, and whenever you come in, it’ll be there, waitin’ for you.” She returned to helping another customer that had walked up to the counter.

Melinda looked over the collection of unclaimed mugs. “A simple, normal, local kind of thing. Pick out a mug.” She finally decided on a skinny, handle-free style mug, and grabbed the marker on the shelf.
Melinda Howard
, she wrote on it.

“Good pick,” Grace mouthed. “Very sleek.” She motioned for Melinda to hand it over to her. She rinsed it out and filled it with coffee. “I’ll still let you add your own cream. But one of these days, I’ll figure out just how you like it.”

After Melinda added the cream, she had to decide where to sit. Grace didn’t give her the chance.

“Outside,” she ordered. “Too nice a weather for a young, pretty girl like you to be hangin’ inside with a bunch of old cooks.” The locals sitting inside just laughed and nodded; there was no one relaxing inside the Wicked Muddy under sixty-five. “Go find yourself a nice young man to talk to,” Grace encouraged with a wink. 

Melinda decided she liked Grace. It also made her wonder how many other things she had been missing these last four years. How many other people in The Demon Isle would she come to like?

She stepped outside and found a seat in the sun. She recognized some of the locals, but was surprised at how many she did not. Had they changed that much in the four years she’d kept herself hidden away? Or when she was a teenager, had she just not paid attention?

Melinda hoped that amongst the locals and tourists she might happen across the dark haired motorcycle man she’d run into previously. Instead, she caught Michael and Emily headed her direction.

“Hey guys,” Melinda shouted, waving them over.

“Hey, Sis.” Michael grinned widely. “What are you doing here?” He held up his hand as if to say, don’t answer. “You know what, why don’t we grab a coffee and join you.”

Melinda nodded yes eagerly. It would nice not to sit alone, or explain herself again.

“I’ll grab yours Emily,” Michael offered.

“Thanks,” she said, sucking on her top lip, barely able to contain her smile. She took the seat next to Melinda.

“You look like you’re about to burst,” Melinda laughed. “What’s going on?”

“I’m just… happy. It’s a beautiful day and my day off. Michael’s not leaving and well, we’re officially dating,” Emily revealed with a quiet squeal.

“Well, it’s about time. He’s been in love with you for years.” She could not help but smile, Emily’s happiness radiated out of her infecting anything within reach.

“We spent the night just walking on the beach. Sitting under the moon. Holding hands…” her tone indicated it was pure bliss.

Melinda imagined a few other things had happened, but was glad Emily kept those to herself. Even with the task of locating their father looming over their heads, Melinda did not remember a recent day when she felt this good. That good feeling also had a little something to do with motorcycle man... she kept glancing, hoping to catch him wandering by.

“Looking for someone in particular?” Emily asked, taking notice.

“Guess I need practice if I’m being that obvious.”

“It’s a guy, isn’t it? Tell me everything!”

“He’s probably a tourist and I doubt I’ll run into him again. Which is what I did last night when I was on my way home from your place... quite literally ran into him.”

“What’s he like?”

“Taller than me. Dark scruffy hair. Molasses eyes. And...” Melinda trailed off remembering his hands running down her back. It shot fiery pulses up her spine just thinking about it.

“And?” prodded Emily.

“Just this intense feeling. Like we were supposed to meet. That sounds crazy to say about a total stranger.”

“No. To be honest, that’s how I felt when I first met your brother.”

“Really?”

“Yup. I think it’s a good thing. I think it’s like your souls somehow know you’ll be a good match for each other. Even if it takes one of those souls a ridiculously long time to come around and admit how he feels.”

“You really shouldn’t go easy on my brother,” Melinda laughed. “Make him suffer a little. But I never thought about it like that, souls knowing they’re right for each other. But like I said, probably won’t see him again. Oh… did I mention he drives a motorcycle?”

“Oh. A bad boy...” Emily replied wickedly. “Don’t tell your brothers.”

“Too late. Michael caught me gawking at him, more like drooling, while walking through town yesterday. And I didn’t really get a bad boy vibe.” Melinda scrunched her nose. “Okay, maybe just a little bit...”

Michael returned with two steaming mugs, unable to control the smile on his face from widening when he saw his girlfriend and his sister deep in conversation, and laughing happily. He noticed Melinda’s personalized mug as she took a sip of coffee. He’d never thought such a mundane thing could bring him such joy and relief. It was starting to feel like she was herself again.