Chapter Sixteen #2
The pot whistles, and I turn off the burner.
Pouring it into my cup, I jerk when someone knocks on the door.
I don’t have visitors or friends. When I first moved in, some of the neighbors popped by, but quickly got the message that I didn’t want to chat.
I purposely picked a house with three doors.
It’s odd in such a small space, but after living in a cage, I needed several exits.
I never wanted to be trapped again. Anyone close to me comes to the side door.
The knock came from the front. I set down the water, and cautiously walk toward it.
“Who is it?” I ask, pressing my palm to the wood.
“Cameron.” I stand straight. How does he know where I live? “I just want to talk.”
“It’s the middle of the night,” I say, frowning. All kinds of red flags are firing in my head.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t wait any longer. Will your boyfriend let you open the door?”
“Rome isn’t—” Shit. I don’t need him to know he isn’t here.
“I’d hoped to speak to you alone,” he says.
“Why?” I ask. I take stock of my spells. My body is tired. I expended a lot of energy, and I don’t know how much more I have right now.
“I knew your mother.”
“What?” I gasp, reaching for the doorknob.
“I have some information about her,” he says, and I use my other hand to unlock the two locks.
“What kind of information?” I ask as I swing it open.
“She knew my dad.” He smiles and looks behind me. “Can I come in?”
“Tell me how first?” I insist, keeping my body in the opening. He sighs, and I narrow my eyes.
“Shit,” he whispers, and I tilt my head.
“She killed my father.” His arm shoots out, his hand wrapping around my neck, and he shoves me back.
I’m too shocked to do anything but move with him.
He slams the door, and I clench my fingers around his arm.
No. His shirt is white. “I tried to do this the easy way. I was nice. If you had taken me up on my offer on the tour, we could have talked more civilly.” He pushes quickly, and my feet can’t keep up.
He doesn’t stop until my back is pressed to the wall.
“Your bitch of a mother took my dad from me.”
“No.” I can’t breathe; his grip is too tight.
“Yes. She refused to use her magic to heal him. My dad was desperate to stay with his wife and son. Your mom couldn’t break her rules just once.
One time, she could have saved a life on command.
Witches are selfish creatures, and I wanted to kill you in memory of my dad.
When I met you, I thought you could be different.
You seemed kind, and you liked me. I decided to wait, feel you out, and maybe I could have you on my side.
” He leans forward, his teeth gritted. “You would have gone out with me if he hadn’t shown up. What is Rome?”
“Please,” I whisper, clawing at his skin. My mind is scrambled, my shock has frozen my spells. I can’t focus on my intention. All I can see is my mom’s face and his dad being the man in her memories. His dad killed my mom. My poor mom.
“He wasn’t a bad guy. My mom didn’t listen.
He loved her and me. I wanted to be just like him.
He came home with blood on his hands and told me everything.
He didn’t deserve her heartlessness.” He grabs his hair with his free hand.
“I couldn’t believe there were witches in the world and they didn’t share their gifts.
I needed you to be different. I watched you for weeks.
” My walls crumble, and I feel all his pain.
He watched his dad hit his mom. He learned how to treat a woman from his father, and it tainted him.
I see him with other women, using them in horrible ways.
He strives to be exactly like his father.
“What is your gift? Why do you wear gloves? You can’t touch, can you?
I studied you every time I came to the store. ”
“Cameron,” I plead, and he eases his grip slightly.
“Tell me,” he demands, releasing his hair and slapping his hand against the wall by my head.
“My mom was innocent,” I cry, and I feel the sting of his palm on his girlfriend. He abuses the women he dates.
“No,” he yells. “She didn’t save him.”
“She couldn’t save your dad. He didn’t deserve it,” I hiss, and his eyes swirl dangerously.
“I watched him wither away. I took care of him in his last days. My mom was fucking happy. That bitch couldn’t care less that he was dying,” he screeches. I see his mom's face as he killed her.
“You stabbed her,” I whimper.
“Fuck yeah, I did.” He leans close to my ear. “I loved hearing her cries.”
“Sick.” Cameron smiled as he slid the knife into his mom's stomach. He left her bleeding on the floor. He changed his name and his appearance. He attended college and secured a job at the university. No one knew he was a monster underneath. “How did you find me?”
“It took time. I had to cover up my past before I could concentrate on finding her children. The house was empty when I found it. I had to track you down.” He rubs his cheek against mine.
“When I saw you, I thought I could get past what she did, if only you could love me. But you hardly looked at me. I thought you were shy at first, so I persisted. The man who held you so close showed me how wrong I was.” His fury overflowed when he met Rome.
I couldn’t foresee any of his evil. I thought he was a good guy.
Rome’s family sensed his intentions, but I didn’t listen.
“If only you loved me. Your gift would become mine.”
“Never,” I groan as his fingers flex. I try to push his emotions away but fail.
“I need you,” he growls, and a vision of him at the doctor flashes. He’s sick. He has taken after his dad. “You have to heal me.” That is why he isn’t going to kill me. He thought I could heal him.
“I can’t.”
“You have to. Now. I will kill you if you don’t.”
“I’m not like my mom.” Fuck, I have to center myself. Visions of my poor mom and Cameron's life won’t let me.
“Don’t lie,” he shouts, pounding the wall with his fist. “You are a liar. Just like her. She ruined my life.” He looks at the side door.
“Mara, what’s—” Lace freezes in the doorway.
“No.” She has to leave.
“What the fuck? Let go of her.” Lace runs toward us. Before she can grab his arm, Cameron backhands her, and she falls to the floor.
“No. Lace.” Fury pounds through me. “No. Don’t touch my sister.
” I lift my arms, bend my elbows, and yank down on top of his.
When he stumbles back, I pull my arm back and punch the center of his chest. Fire in the shape of my fist erupts on his shirt, quickly burning the fabric.
“Keep your hands off of her,” I growl, my spells threading through my voice.
Holding my hands in front of me, I make his feet skid across the floor as my magic surrounds him, forcing him away.
Thunder cracks, and the elements add to my power.
“Mara.” Rome appears in the open door, and his power fills the room.
Cameron falls to his knees. “There is a handprint on your neck.” All the windows fly open, and wind swirls through the house.
He moves into the room and waves his hand toward Cameron.
My owl is hovering on the table outside the door, his movements agitated.
“Fuck,” Cameron hisses and clutches his twisted arm to his chest. “What are you?” Archer runs to where Lace is lying.
“You put your hands on my woman.” Rome stops in front of me and glides his finger over the bruise on my neck. “Tell me.”
“His dad knew our mom. She refused to heal him, and he killed her,” I rush to explain, needing to make sure Lace is alright.
“She killed him,” Cameron snaps.
“You're not allowed to talk,” Rome growls, and Cameron’s lips are sewn together. “My Mara, is it painful?” I shake my head, my hair flying around my face.
“He surprised me,” I whisper, grabbing his shirt at his waist. “I shouldn’t have opened the door.” I look at Cameron as he tries to crawl away. He doesn’t get far; Rome freezes him. “He said he knew my mom, and I couldn’t help it.”
“Tip your chin up,” he says softly. I look toward the ceiling, and he gently cups my neck.
“No more pain. Heal my soul.” I gasp as the pressure on my skin eases.
“I can still see it, but it shouldn’t hurt anymore.
” His face is grim when I straighten. “What did he do to Lace?” I look around him and see Archer holding her against him.
“He slapped her.” I rush to her side. “Lace,” I cry, cupping her cheek. Her eye is bruising quickly. I’m distracted when my owl shoots through the door.
“Shit,” she mumbles, slowly opening her eyes. “I was taken out by a human.”
“He hit you hard,” I whisper, looking back at her, as she grabs my hand.
“Why is there a windstorm in the house?” she asks, looking around.
“Rome is upset,” Archer bites out.
“It’s not just me,” Rome grumbles, looking at his friend. Archer shrugs and leans against the back of the couch.
“What did you do to him?” Lace asks, staring at Cameron. He’s curled against the bottom of the stairs. He’s still aware, and his eyes are panicked.
“Broke his arm and stopped him from speaking,” Rome says as he moves toward him. “I could kill you quickly,” he says, crouching by him. “Or I could make it last.” The lights flicker, and Cameron looks up. “I could do much more.”
“His father is the one who killed Mom,” I whisper as my owl lands on the back of the couch behind Archer.
“No,” Lace cries.
“He’s sick like his dad was.” I gasp as the bird makes the leap to my shoulder. “That’s new,” I mutter, and everyone in the room stares at it.
“This doesn’t happen often?” Archer asks, tilting his head.
“Uh….no,” Lace snorts.
“Let’s worry about you.” I tuck her hair behind her ear, and I’m surprised when my spells react. “I think I can heal you,” I whisper, and she widens her eyes.
“Everything’s new since you’ve met Rome,” she says.
“True,” I mutter, pressing my fingers over her wound. Heal my blood. Take her pain away. I watch it fade in wonder. My shoulder burns with the influx of magic. The owl is helping me. Giving me healing magic.
“That’s handy,” she says, and smiles. The pressure on my shirt is released as he flies away and resumes his stance outside the side door.
“Rome.” I swivel toward him, and some of the anger leaves his eyes as he smiles slightly. He doesn’t seem surprised by the owl's actions.
“Good job, my Mara,” he says, and then waves at Cameron. “What do you want to do with him?”
“Let him speak,” I reply, and stand. Rome's spell is removed, and I move to stand over him.
“All of you are evil,” Cameron spits. “Your mom killed my dad, and now you're going to kill me.”
“Yes,” I simply say. “But she didn’t kill him, his disease did.
It was his time, and our magic wouldn’t want to heal a man who abuses others.
You asked how my power works.” I crouch beside Rome.
“When you touched me, all of your memories transferred to me. I saw everything you have done. Your dad was a horrible man. You have taken after him. I never thought you were anything other than a sweet guy who wanted to ask me out, but thought you didn’t have the guts to do it.
” Glasses break in the kitchen, and I glance at Rome.
He lifts a shoulder. “I see all now. I won’t heal you.
What I do next will be much worse than a broken arm.
You need to feel the pain you caused by your actions.
Rome, let him go.” He grits his teeth but waves his hand.
Cameron immediately tries to move, but I grab his shirt.
The fire I started when he hit Lace begins to sizzle again, and he groans.
I look into his eyes and allow my spells to transfer the emotions.
Rome straightens and stands behind me, his hand on my shoulder.
I’m grateful for his support, yet this will be the easiest kill.
His blood took away a beautiful woman who wouldn’t hurt anyone.
She loved hard and used her gifts in the simplest way.
I picture her, wherever she is, tending to her flowers and birds, nurturing them with her love.
His eyes start to water as I shove the memory of his mom into his mind as she lay dying on the floor.
I felt the betrayal of her son and her crushing sadness.
The wind gains force as I inflict her wounds on him.
Blood seeps across his stomach, and his mouth opens, but no sound emerges.
As the emotion keeps him immobile, I slowly stand, and his eyes track mine.
He’s still connected, and the memories aren’t done yet.
I guide my magic to give him every ounce of fear and pain.
His eyes are blank, almost white. All he can see is the past and his victims.
They cut off abruptly, and I sag against Rome. He’s gone. He can’t hurt anyone again. I should feel relief, but all I feel is sadness for the lives he took, and my mom taken too soon. A wave of fog settles over me, and my body is limp.
“I need to sleep now,” I slur, and strong arms pick me up.
“Sleep, my Mara,” Rome rumbles. “I got you. No more harm will come to you.”
I believe him.