Page 52 of Secrets in Salem: Part One

I explain what happened with the house, though for reasons I don't really understand, I keep the supernatural stuff to myself. Probably the same reason I didn't tell Adam. If keeping secrets from my mom will keep her safe, then that's exactly what I'm going to do, even if I hate it.

"How bad is the damage?" Mom asks sadly, a sniffle coming through the speaker of my phone.

My heart pangs sharply, feeling the same at the thought of our quaint home being vandalized so badly I can smell it from my room even with the door closed and window open. "It's pretty bad, Mom. I'm going to be staying with Adam for a few days, maybe look for somewhere to rent while the house gets fixed up."

The lie tastes sour on my tongue, but I'd rather her think I'm safe with my bestie than shacking up with three virtual strangers. That's not another worry she needs when she's away on work.

Mom sighs. "Okay, that's probably for the best. I'll get someone to fix up the house over the next couple of weeks. Think you can find somewhere to stay for that long?"

The frown on my face deepens. "You're going to be away for a couple of weeks?"

"Yeah, honey," she answers remorsefully. "This is a pretty big project. They've found tombs and catacombs that have never been seen before, so they need me here. Is that alright? Or do you need me to come home right away? I can book the first flight out, Willow. I don't want you to be alone when-"

"Mom, I'll be fine. You do your thing, and I'll hold down the fort here, okay? Just, text me, okay? Let me know when the house is being fixed," I tell her, effectively cutting her off before she starts another tangent.

She's silent for a moment before a longer sigh echoes through the phone. "Only if you're sure, honey. I worry, you know that."

A smile pulls at my lips, and I nod even though she's not here to see it. "I sure do. I'll be fine. Don't worry about me and focus on your work."

"Alright, honey, but I want-" she says just as the rumbling of a male voice cuts off whatever she's about to say. "Shit. I'll be there in a minute, Stewart. Willow? I have to go. We've got some problems at the site. I'll text you soon, okay? I love you!"

Before I can even breathe a word in response, the line goes dead. I pull the phone away and stare down at the black screen, shaking my head with a fond smile. She's safe, and that's all that matters.

"Hey, you ready to get the hell out of dodge?" Aleric asks from the doorway, startling me into dropping my phone.

Growling pathetically, I shoot him some eye daggers before huffing, "Yeah, be there in a sec."

Bending to retrieve my phone, I end up on my knees with my hand under my bed, feeling around for the slippery device. My fingers connect with several things that are definitely not my phone, and I start to get impatient. I drop my head to the floor, searching for the small black rectangle, and find it next to my journal.

"That's weird. But what's new?" I mutter to myself, reaching my hand back under the bed to drag both items over.

"What's weird?" Aleric ponders, sounding more amused than I would have liked.

"I thought you'd gone back downstairs," I answer before settling on the heels of my feet. "What's weird is my journal being under my bed. It's always under my pillow. In my dresser, if I'm feelingreallywild. Why is it under the bed?"

"Maybe you knocked it down the side of the bed while you were sleeping," Aleric offers, shrugging and holding a hand out to help me off the floor.

Nodding, I half-heartedly reply, "Yeah, maybe."

But I know that's not possible. There's no space between my bed and the wall for the thick journal to fall between. And my journal certainly wouldn't have landed in themiddleof the floor beneath my bed. The physics doesn't check out there. I'll have to add that to the list of things to figure out.

For now, though, I have to drop my things off at the guys' apartment and catch a very appealing date with two kids and a momma I’m dying to spend time with. Movies and pizza can’t come quick enough. Which reminds me, I need to find the bag of goodies I bought before shit went south.

Tucking my journal under my arm, I accept Aleric's hand and let him pull me off the ground. He looks down at the thick leather bound book, tapping the spine before asking, "That's a beast of a book. Had a lot of thoughts to put down on paper, huh?"

I snort, because although it started off that way, it's become a whole lot more than a space for venting all of my emotions. It has everything in there that I need, from locations to possible ancestral lines I need to look into. It's practically my bible. The only thing that will help me figure out who I am.

"Not really. I stopped writing my thoughts and emotions down years ago. It's mainly filled with things that will help me find my birth mother now," I explain, maybe a little too honestly since Aleric frowns as a flash of pity crosses his eyes. I despise pity. "Don't give me that look. If I come to a dead end, I come to a dead end. At least I know I’ve tried. Save your pity for those who want or deserve it."

Without letting him respond, I storm past him and down the stairs. I find the bag of sweets and popcorn near the landing where I must have left it, snatch it up, and raise my free hand to block out the mess as I hurry out of the house. I make a beeline for the car, climbing in without a backward glance. I guess that place is no longer my home when it no longer feels like it. It’s been violated, the safety I’d once found inside no longer present.

Bishop is already in the front passenger seat, while Micah takes up a spot on my left. I don't bother looking over at them, glad they don't try to snag my attention, leaving me to stew in my annoyance.

A moment later, Aleric comes out of the house, wedging the door into the frame with more strength than any normal human should have. He doesn’t grunt, strain, or look to appear like he struggles at all. It’s as though he’s just lifted a feather. What? How is that... It's only then I remember Bishop's words when he was talking his thoughts out loud:My beast is restless.

What beast? What does that mean? Does it have something to do with the supernatural, or is it a new age phrase about some kind of “manly urges” or something?

My anger is quick to disappear, making way for that wretched curiosity that will likely be the death of me. Deciding there's no real harm in asking, I wait until Aleric is in the car and pulls off down the road to ask. "So, restless beasts, huh? What does that mean? Please tell me it's not some fucked up innuendo for your dicks. That would be TMI for a girl you've just officially met."

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