Page 55 of Stalked

_______________

I HURRIED TOthe window when I heard tires along the gravel. Riley’s car was parked at the end of Lily’s driveway, but he hadn’t gotten out of the car yet.

“Give me a minute,” I told Joel, who had placed a few ritualistic gems and herbs along the coffee table. “He might be on the phone, but I’m going to go check.” As I peered through the window, I saw his headlights were on, but I couldn’t see his silhouette through the windshield.

“Once Riley is safe inside, I’ll put up a protective spell around the home to keep any uninvited guests out,” Joel said.

I nodded before stepping out onto the porch. “Riley?” I called as the wind blew up the surrounding leaves.

Something isn’t right.

“Riley, where are you?”

I took one step to the right to see his door ajar, but only slightly. What looked like a wallet lay on the ground next to his door.

Shit!

“Caleb?” I called out, forcing back tears that something had happened to my friend. “Where the fuck are you, Caleb?” My voice carried through the wind, but I feared Lily or Joel would hear. He could hurt them if they came out and confronted him. I didn’t want him to harm my family, too.

“Riley’s fine,” Caleb said, appearing from behind the trees next to the property. “He’s sleeping comfortably in the forest.”

“Sleeping?”

“A simple spell.”

“Fuck you. I’m so sick of you trying to destroy my life!” I scowled.

Caleb cocked his head. “I’m not your enemy.”

“Oh, the fuck you are. You’ve done nothing but use, manipulate and lie to me. You’re the definition of my enemy.”

The hum of magic filled my veins—the raw power harnessing down to my fingertips. Now I understood what my mother felt; it was like a drug; the more I used it, the more I wanted to use it. If this was how I was when I barely scratched the surface, then Caleb would feel the wrath of what I could do when he hurt those I loved.

“I don’t want you here,” I said through my teeth.

Caleb’s eyes widened as he watched the green light dwindle at my fingertips.

“Put down your magic, Mercy. Now.”

“I’m not going with you,” I said, but my threat did nothing. Caleb walked toward me with his own power in the palm of his hand—fire, lighting up the space around him like a beacon.

I took a step back, feeling fear blanket my body because I hadn’t a fucking clue how to control this magic. I could feel my energy slipping away as my hands shook at the sight of his flames.

His presence of true power circled me as he stood within a few feet, powering down his magic but keeping his hand still outstretched.

“Please don’t make this so difficult,” he pleaded. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

I gave him a stern look. “My family is whom I want with me when I go through the Awakening. Because, unlike you, they would never force me to do something I didn’t want to do to get what they wanted.”

I felt the surge of my powers completely dwindle away. It was as if the fear of Caleb’s presence numbed my core to where I could no longer focus enough on my magic. I didn’t know what to do with it.

Caleb dropped his power, his hand reaching out to pull me close. As I shoved at his chest, his other hand landed on my head. Before I could scream, my eyes rolled back into the darkness.

_______________

WHEN I OPENEDmy eyes, we were pulling up to a little cottage in a wooded area. Caleb parked the car, and I glared at him until he looked at me.

“Did you seriously kidnap me? For fuck’s sake, Caleb, do you have no respect for me?” I scolded.

---