Page 10 of Fangs and Family
‘I’m ready,’ she said, but the strain in her voice pushed me forward, and I grasped Veronica’s shoulder to hold her back.
‘Is it dangerous? For Sara?’ I asked. It was one thing for me to do something stupid to find Pawel, but I wouldn’t endanger the woman who was like a sister to me.
‘I’ll be fine, but it’ll be a little messy, so look the other way if you want.’ Sara said, and before I could stop her, Veronica smeared my blood onto my friend’s chest, drawing a sigil with the tip of the knife.
Sara’s body arched, and she gasped when a painful spasm twisted her spine. For a split second before she closed her eyes, I saw a milky, otherworldly film obscure her pupils.
Veronica positioned herself behind Sara, supporting her weight and placing her fingers on my friend’s temples whilst muttering an invocation.
Silver strands flowed into the room from various directions and slid beneath Victoria’s fingers.
‘What the fuck…?’ I muttered, and the coven mistress answered.
‘Our sisters are sharing their strength.’ She said, continuing to channel the strands, and I watched as if hypnotised. I wished…Why can’t I be one of you?I thought, feeling the prickle of envy.
Ever since Sara introduced me to the Elder races, I found myself connecting with the people in this new reality, but I still had the feeling I didn’t truly belong. I would love to join the Coven. The way witches and warlocks supported each other spoke to my very soul. The pack was like a family of growling bastards held together by the stern discipline of the Alpha, a stern version of a father figure, ready to sacrifice himself for his people.
Adam’s Seethe was ruled with similar authority, but maybe more like an iron fist in a velvet glove. Even with its ostentation and politics, the vampires presented a united front to any external danger. Leszek, out of all those I knew, had led a solitary existence until Sara entered his life.
But the Coven… the Coven was like a family. It wasn’t necessarily the magic that attracted me to it but the bonds they created. Unfortunately, without magic, I was, and always would be, an outsider.
The minutes dragged by. I gnawed my fingernails to the quick as I decided I needed to have a good talk with Sara about what she considered fine, and I’d probably throw in a sentence or two about harm as well; my arm was still smarting from the cut.
Suddenly, Sara jerked, falling onto her knees and heaving as she knelt on what looked like an expensive Persian rug, which had Veronica cursing up a storm as she grabbed a box of tissues to stop her from making a mess. After a few moments of coughing and spluttering, Sara looked up, her eyes now clear but filled with guilt.
‘I couldn’t see him, Nina. I’m so sorry. All I caught were glimpses of the past and a vague sense that he was alive. It felt like banging my head against a brick wall, and nothing I tried could break through. Whether it was a spell or someone’s will, it protected him from being found. I’ll have a chat with Leszek and ask for his help. I’m so sorry. I know you were hoping for some answers,’ she said, staggering to her feet as I looked on, feeling defeated.
‘It’s alright, we’ll try something else. At least we know Pawel’s alive, and that’s all that matters,’ I said, jumping when the phone in Sara’s pocket blasted out, “Cry Wolf,” and my friend gave me an apologetic smile.
‘I’m sorry. Leszek must have felt my distress through that bloody soul fragment he shoved in my chest,’ she grumbled, answering the phone. It wasn’t the first time she’d complained about how the way he saved her life came with the price of being hard-wired to his spirit. I heard her launch into a terse explanation before angrily ending the call.
‘Damned overprotective men, antlers or not. Let’s go. Someone will come to pick me up from your apartment because, guess what? I’m not supposed to drive after scrying in case I have a dizzy spell.’
The outrage in her voice dragged a smile from my lips despite the situation. Leszek’s orders were utterly ignored as she apologised to Veronica and formally thanked her, then bundled me into her car, driving to my place like a maniac.
‘Why don’t you tell him to stop acting like you’re made of glass?’ I asked, holding onto the door handle during one of Sara’s wilder manoeuvres.
‘Because it wouldn’t change anything. After I almost died, Leszek sees danger in everything. Besides, if pampering and protecting me makes him happy, I’m willing to put up with the minor inconvenience.’ She grinned, taking another turn. ‘He feels better that way, and I still do what I want, but the difference is now I can always call my forest-scented cavalry for help.’
Despite the dread of my situation, I couldn’t help but laugh. My friend had her divine-powered husband wrapped around her pinky, and they both were thrilled with this arrangement.
‘Come on, you. Hand over your feminist membership card,’ I joked.
We were still laughing when we pulled into my parking spot, but when I saw who was there to take Sara home, the laughter died in my throat. The person leaning against his car so nonchalantly was the one I wasn’t ready to face.
Adam looked dangerously handsome. His dark hair curled behind his ears, giving his face a roughish charm. He looked good in his modern cut three-piece suit, but somehow, despite his pose, he looked tense. When we exited the car and Sara hugged me goodbye, he approached with a sarcastic smile lingering on his lips.
‘I thought Leszek said no driving for you today?’ He commented, nodding toward Sara, but his gaze never dropped from my face.
‘I thought you knew I never listen to orders.’ She answered, giving me a quick peck on the cheek. ‘I’ll see you later, Nina.’
Adam opened the door for her, and when she was seated on the passenger side, he turned toward me. After a prolonged silence, his intense gaze slid over my face, and I swallowed hard, doing my best to act cold and distant as if this were a random encounter with a chauffeur.
C’mon, Nina, you’d at least greet the chauffeur.I thought, pulling the tight smile on my face while my heart hammered in my chest.
‘Hi, Adam.’ I must have been tired or just too stressed to think clearly, but even after all this time, I swear his beautiful dark blue eyes lit up when I spoke.
Adam came closer, so close I had to tilt my head back to look at him. I was startled when he lifted his hand to touch my face. Unsure of what he wanted to do, I flinched, stepping back. Something dark crossed his expression before the corner of his mouth twitched, showing the arrogant smirk I knew too well.
