Page 19 of Branches of the Willow

A knock at the door interrupted the lighter conversation that followed. We all thought it was just the food, so my father bellowed, “Come on in.”

To his surprise, and everyone else’s, a woman – a witch - stood in place of what we thought was going to be our dinner. Jaws dropped as the stunning woman’s piercing glacial eyes travelled the crowd until they locked with mine. “Jessica, we need to talk.”

Every wolf in the room jumped to get in front of me, some snarling and snapping. They could sense that she was a witch, though they weren’t certain if she was friend or foe yet. Many were not aware of what Sophia looked like, or whether witches could change their appearance on a whim. Mikael, even knowing who this witch was, still didn’t trust her. He pushed me behind him and snarled right along with the rest of the wolves.

“Please, if you would allow me to explain, I promise it would ease your worry. I’m here to help.”

“If you allow us to lock you up while you explain, then you can stay, but I’ll be damned if I am going to have another witch involved around Jessica and not take precautions.”

“I think that’s a fair proposal.” I called out from behind Mikael’s shoulder, suddenly pissed about feeling like a schoolgirl who couldn’t see over the rest of the class. “Once you’ve said your peace you will be free to go. You have my word.”

“Very well, if that’s the way it must be. I suppose you have a secure location to put me?”

“As a matter of fact, we’ve been preparing.” My father announced stiffly. I hadn’t known anything about cells being prepared for a witch’s containment, but then again, this was my father’s pack lands, not mine. He was free to do as he saw fit. “Once you are secured, Jessica will follow.”

The witch nodded and allowed herself to be escorted out by my father, Mikael, and Mac. Avery and two others stayed behind with me. The men were only gone with the woman for two minutes before my mom came bursting through the door to the meeting hall. “Jess, you need to come with me.”

“Mom, we have a little crisis going on right now, I can’t.”

“Well, it’s about the whole reason you’re all gathered here.” That piqued everyone’s interest. Damn it, she needed to learn a bit more decorum when delivering news around the foreign pack leaders.

“What is it?” I asked while moving my mother out into the hallway so that we couldn’t be overheard by so many ears.

“Annabelle sent word with one of the guards that she heard from Malachi. She said she will only talk to you about the details though, because you are the only one who is capable of making a deal for the information in exchange for her freedom.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Is everyone going to pop up out of the woodwork today wanting to make deals and telling me special stories? Fine.” I turned to look at Avery who had followed me, as he was considered my right-hand man during these meetings whenever my mate and father were not available. “I’m going with my mom really quick to see what this is all about. Let them know, I will be back to see to the witch as soon as this is taken care of.” Sierra popped her head in just then, and the minute she opened the door, the smell of oriental food sent my taste buds into overdrive. All I could do was salivate over the food I no longer had time to eat. I looked longingly at the bags she carried as it was brought in. “Enjoy your dinner.”

“I’m sure it will still be warm when you get back, honey.” My mother offered sympathetically.

“Seriously, Sierra just served up fresh, hot food to a room full of hungry werewolves, and you think there will be any left when I get back?”

“I can always make you something, if you like.” She looked guiltily between the door where the food had just disappeared and me. I ignored her offer because it annoyed me that my mother had to offer to cook for me because I couldn’t even find a moment to eat with everyone else. Once again, I felt as though I were being pulled in far too many directions all at once.

“Are Annabelle and Leanne still being held over at Betsy’s house?” I asked.

“Yes. It’s the most secure location outside of the cells. I think your father was hoping that if they were in a homier environment, they’d be more inclined to talk.”

“Well, looks like his plan may have worked then.” I offered. “I’ll swing by the house for something to eat as soon as I’m done. There’s no need for you to come with me.”

“Okay, Jess. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

Once I was at Betsy’s place, my hackles went up, and I tensed, on alert. Something was not right. The guards that should have been stationed around the house were nowhere in sight. I thought, maybe since my mother had come to get me that she had them wait inside with the women. So, I went to knock on the door anyway. I waited for an answer, and Annabelle opened it with a sweet smile on her face. “Thank God, you came. I thought for sure you were just going to ignore my pleas.”

“I’m here. Now, tell me what’s going on, because I have some important things to get back to.”

“Oh, okay, well come in.” She slid out of the way, so I could pass by her to get inside the house.

No sooner had I taken a few steps inside, than Leanna came out of the shadows from somewhere off to the right and blew powder into my face that had been hidden in a ring she had on her finger. When I turned in her direction, I noticed two guards face down on the floor in the shadows, apparently victims of the same little trick. There was someone else in the shadows, but she was not a victim.

“You…” I didn’t get anything else out, because my world spun on its heels and tipped sideways all of a sudden. My body became an immobile brick, as I fell over, and wasn’t even able to catch myself. No one else in the room bothered to catch me either. I knew I would be aching if I could feel anything, but the lights were dimming, and everything sounded like it was suddenly coming from the end of a very deep, dark tunnel. As things grew quieter and darker, I wondered if I would be lucky enough to be rescued this time.

Surely, this time, my captors would just kill me and get it over with. Mikael’s face came to mind. His eyes lit up behind that gorgeous grin of his. His smile made me want to mimic it, but he wasn’t really there. His face faded, and I saw Ashley’s, and then my parents, the Reynolds family, even Jack’s wonderful visage graced my presence. It wasn’t so much my life flashing before my eyes as my loves. Everyone I ever cared about streamed in and out of my conscious thoughts before it all dimmed completely and I was swallowed whole by a numbing, black, nothingness.

7

Beyond Visions

Therewerebarsinfront of me, and the witch with the ice blue eyes was on the other side of them. At first, I was confused, thinking that she must have been working with the other, but then I heard his voice, as if I had spoken it myself.

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