Page 38 of Heart of a Witch
“Sorry. I’ve had a hard time at school. I haven’t been in the best of moods.”
I sat upright. “How so? You didn’t say anything earlier.”
She plopped herself on the end of my bed. “You were busy plotting and hexing.” She paused. “I met Corbin. The Shaw junior.”
My stomach churned. “I told you not to get involved.”
“But it was so easy,” she admitted, fingering her silver necklace with a slight curve to her lips. “The others tried bullying me.”
I clicked my tongue. “I assume you retaliated.”
“I haven’t.” She paused. “Yet,” she mumbled quietly.
“Wait, is Corbin the one bullying you?”
She shook her head, averting her gaze from mine. “Actually, he’s the one who’s been sticking up for me. They think I’m weird.”
“You are weird,” I said, in an attempt to lighten the mood. “The best people are, sister. Would you prefer to be like the rest of them?”
“No.”
I wiped the sweat from my forehead using a handkerchief from the nightstand. “So Corbin isn’t a total ass then?”
“He’s still a Shaw,” she said with a ferocity lining her tone. “He’s only protecting me because he wants to get inside my underwear. I can tell.”
“We told you the terms of your coming here was you weren’t going to get involved personally. You promised you’d watch from the sidelines.”
She placed her hands on her curvy hips. “I think it’s unfair you and Cas get to have all the fun.”
“This isn’t supposed to be fun.”
“Fine.” She turned, but I saw her roll her eyes before she did. “Try not to scream too loudly. I need my sleep.”
“Yes, you do!” I shouted as she left the room. Once she was gone, I gripped the covers and pulled them up to my chest, then nestled into the comfort and warmth, searching for something, anything. Everything felt so empty.
For a second, I wished Alex hadn’t left. She, like everything else, was a welcome distraction. Nighttime was the worst. Goose bumps spread along my arms.
I looked at the open window. The moon was barely a slit of a crescent white against the sky. The oil lamp Alex must’ve lit when she came in flickered oranges and yellows onto the black-and-purple damask wallpaper and reflected off the large, framed mirror on top of the rosewood-and-walnut dresser. I eyed the glass case, which had been invented to be used as a floating garden. It was the perfect home for my babies.
My thoughts floated to Elijah. He hadn’t been as repulsed by Ebony or Buttercup as I’d expected, but I hadn’t thought one of them would pop out of my pocket like that. They usually slept when I walked. It had been a risk taking them out, but they hadn’t been anywhere yet and had been cooped up in their cage for days.
I would take them with me tomorrow. He’d promised me a walk around the grounds, after a little nudging. It was exhausting pretending to be so nice, but it was working. Cas was working his way into the church community, via his new friend, Priest Montague’s wife. Our plan was underway, yet I couldn’t find happiness in it—or even a sense of accomplishment. I felt… nothing, only sedation to the fury licking through me like flames, knowing I was avenging Ember.
Dark magic lingered long after morning came. I tried to eat breakfast, but nothing tasted good anymore, not even those apples, though they’d been the one thing to come close. I forced myself into a bath, got dressed, and picked up the charm I’d grabbed from the shop that Ember had made. I kissed it for good luck.
Yesterday I had come close to seeing Damian. I’d diverted my way to his bathroom to find something of his to use in a hex bag, but I’d almost been caught. Elijah had seemed distracted, but his staff was not. I couldn’t risk it again, which was why Alex and Cas would place the hex bag in Damian’s bed at the ball.
I painted my lips dark red before I brushed down the front of my blouse and blue skirt. These dresses were the closest compromise I could find between the fashion in Redforest and my own. Free-flowing skirts were comfortable, not too tight, but the blouse’s collar reached up to my throat, which was a little annoying. Fortunately, I had my charm to lure Elijah. After all, he had invited me back today to spend time with him, so something was working.
I grabbed a bag and placed my babies inside of it. I made my way out and headed into town. I was going to pick up some items from the bakery first and check out the progress of our shop.
I opened the front door but grabbed my jacket when I saw the gray sky. Storm clouds rolled to the west, and a thunderous boom landed over the distant forest. At least the weather matched my mood.
Thirteen
Elijah
I draped my arm over the back of an armchair, kicking my legs up onto the coffee table, as Charles grabbed a cigar from the tray. “Want one?”
