Page 22 of Spellbound
Nauseated. Fragile. Confronted with my inevitable attachment to mortality. I wanted to scream because I couldn’t get the smell of death out of my nose. “I’m okay,” I managed to say. I looked at his frantic gaze and tight lips. I didn’t want to worry him more than he already was.
His forehead wrinkled as he wrapped an arm around me. “Let’s get you home.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Viktor. Maddox.” He waved a hand at the crowd.
The group of people were still gathered, whispering to each other. Some were crying. Maddox stood next to Viktor. Pity softened Maddox’s features, but Viktor’s was different. Rage guided his expression as he glared into the woods. Maddox tapped him on the back, and he snapped back to reality.
“Elle.” Maddox took wide strides until he was at my other side. “You okay?”
Viktor followed. His blue eyes met mine, and his expression softened. “I think what Elle needs is a drink.”
Edmund scowled. “An alcoholic drink? Now?”
“Come on, doll.”
I hesitated as he held his arm out for me to grab. “No, thank you.”
Edmund smirked. “You need a hot chocolate, I think.”
I nodded slowly.
“Dora’s lit the fire in your room and made your bed.”
I closed my eyes. She must be worried sick. She panicked at the best of times. “Let’s get home.” I shuddered as the stench wafted into my nose once again. A hot chocolate was welcome to remove the taste of bile in my throat, and the thought of the fire and my bed pulled me into action. I wanted to get as far away from the woods as possible.
Viktor glanced from me to Edmund. “I’ll clear the way.”
Edmund nodded. A loud crack sounded from the tree line behind us. I whipped my head around but was greeted with nothing but darkness. Edmund pursed his lips, and I heard an unintelligible mutter from Maddox. Viktor poised to fight, his muscles bulging under his shirt and his fingers flexing. His eyes appeared almost animalistic as he fixated on the rustling trees swaying against the wind.
Maddox and Edmund helped me to my feet. “Viktor.” Edmund tilted his head in the direction of the small crowd. “Let’s get her back to the house.”
Viktor pulled his stare away from trees, and his sharp jawline hardened as he turned slowly. The pale light of the moon showed off his olive complexion and dark hair. The way he moved reminded me of a wolf or a similar beast ready to attack at any moment.
He created a path through the swelling group of witches, and my friends escorted me back. As we walked, I pinched my eyes shut, unable to erase the scene replaying in my mind. Where bugs crawled between blue lips and ants crawled along gray-tinted skin. Where death hung thick in the air and the absence of sound or a heartbeat was deafening.
Dora brought me hot cocoa, which I drank too quickly, making my nausea worse. I sat in front of the crackling fire, watching it wither newspapers to embers between charcoaled logs. The pale-blue walls illuminated from the shadows as the flames flicked taller. The headline of the latest murder turned to ash as I watched the last newspaper feed the fire. Tomorrow’s front page would be splashed with yet another warlock found dead. This time, I was part of the story. Edmund had said something about a reporter wanting to talk to me, but he’d told them no. I was grateful. The last thing I wanted was to speak to people about what had happened.
A light rapping at the door jolted me. Glancing up, I sighed. “Viktor.”
“Naomi sent Edmund a magic quill thing. She said she will be coming by in the morning. Thought I’d tell you.”
“Maddox sent you up, did he?”
He stepped inside. “No. I made the choice myself, believe it or not.”
“I don’t need a babysitter. I’ll be fine.”
“I figured you’d need a friend.” He sighed. “I once found a body too. More than one.”
I arched an eyebrow. I chewed the inside of my lip, then relented. “Come in,” I said, although he was already standing a few steps in.
He closed the door behind him and sat on the chair in front of my dresser and mirror. He looked down at where I sat on my shaggy rug on the floor, in front of the large stone fireplace. “You shouldn’t have had that.” He pointed at my empty mug of cocoa. “I bet it made you feel worse.”
I pressed my hand against my stomach. “A little.”
“I suggested alcohol because you’re full of adrenaline. You’re in shock, and a drink would have helped settle your nerves. Take it from an expert.” He winked, then pulled out a small bottle of whiskey from his pants pocket. “Take a sip. It’ll burn but help.”
“I’ve drunk whiskey before.”
“With the way Edmund reacted, I assumed you weren’t allowed to drink.”
