Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
I reach the bathroom, a vision of wealth with its marble walls and expensive scent. I slam the door behind me, my heart racing, my magic burning my body with its furious rage. How fucking dare they.
My breath is panting as my tears start to fall from my eyes.
I slam my hands on the marble sink unit as a guttural scream pours itself from my body.
The lights above me flicker with my anger.
I pull my face up to look at myself, mascara now running down my face, my hair falling out of my updo and falling around down my back.
Without a thought I impulsively throw my hands towards the mirror in front of me. My magic flies from my shaking fingertips and smashes the mirror to smithereens. Splinters of glass shoot past me, one catching my lip with a sharp sting. The room is now a mess of broken pieces. Including my heart.
The release didn’t demonise the burning. Instead, it burnt harder, burnt from within my core. My magic is still dancing around my veins, dying to be set free.
I steady myself on the sink again, using the cold porcelain to cool my aching hands.
The door sounds behind me. I don’t move, I don’t look around, just utter words to whoever walked in on me.
“Sorry, I had a bit too much and tripped. I’m fine, just give me a minute.” The last thing I need is anyone bothering me right now, but my words are met with silence. I feel my rage building again.
“Please,” I plead. “Just give me a minute.”
Footsteps crunch over the glass as someone stalks towards me. This bathroom is only reserved for the VIPs so it’s either Greg or his mother.
“Just give me a minute,” I plead louder. My hands wrap around the rim of the sink until my knuckles turn white, pushing all the anger down to keep from turning around and wiping out whoever is behind me.
A hand grabs my waist, pulls me into them. I go to speak but I am cut off by a whisper against my ear.
“Have you been waiting long?” They kiss my neck softly. “For me.”
I know that smell. That voice. That kiss. My body crumbles beneath me but I am held up by two strong arms that spin me around in one movement so I am facing him.
“Sam…” A pathetic whisper leaves my voice box.
He brushes his thumb over the blood dripping from the wound from my swollen bottom lip.
His eyes are bloodshot and dark. He is wearing a black suit with a black shirt with a masquerade mask in the shape of a dog.
No, a wolf. He looks breathtaking. The top of his muscled chest is just peeking out of the top of his slightly unbuttoned shirt.
He looks me up and down then licks his lips with hunger.
He tips my face towards him and looks directly into my soul with his deep jade eyes.
“You will never run away from me again, Harriet. I will hunt you to the ends of the earth and I will kill anyone who takes you from me.”
He kisses me, planting his lips hard upon mine. It stings where the mirror has cut me, but I don’t care. I grab at his body, pawing at every part of him, pulling his clothes, trying to take in every part of him.
He pulls away and wipes a falling tear from my cheek. “They’ll never make you cry again.”
I kiss him harder, biting his lip and dragging my nails down his chest. My man. My home. I want to drink in every part of him. Right now. His eyes darken even more as a sly smirk appears on his face. His hands grab my thighs, and he throws me on top of the sink unit.
I look up at him, the desire in our eyes meeting each other in chaos.
He yanks my dress up around my hips, grabbing greedily at my thighs as his hands slide up them not giving me a chance to even consider what is about to happen.
He pulls my black lace panties to the side, too impatient to take them off, and pushes himself inside.
“Someone might come in,” I moan breathlessly.
“Let them,” he growls, thrusting into me.
The force of him knocks me back. My breath is taken from my body as pleasure joins my magic and races around my body, our bodies now one again. I pull my arms around his neck as he drives into me over and over again, slamming my back into the now bare wall behind the unit.
He grabs my arm, pinning it above my head as he continues to fuck me. I want to scream his name. I want to cry. I can’t believe I thought I could even fathom living without him.
My body moves in time with his. I can feel myself about to dive over the edge, bringing him with me.
My magic swirls inside me ready to explode alongside my aching orgasm.
As my body gives in to Sam, my magic also releases with me, as does Sam’s.
A flash of light flows out of us as the rest of the mirrors smash along with the porcelain beneath me.
Sam’s hand is holding my ass as he slows the momentum into the wall.
It’s quick and dirty. It’s the perfect hello.
“Fuck…” He laughs in my ear. “I hope they don’t charge us for that.” His forehead is resting on mine.
“I’m sorry.” I half laugh and half sob, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck as he releases my arm from above us. He continues to hold me, using his other free arm to hold me up.
“Don’t ever be sorry for that.” He smiles.
“I’m sorry for leaving.” A tear trickles down my cheek.
Sam’s face switches to concern. “Hey, hey…” he says soothingly. “You did what you did to protect us. I get that. But, Harri, you’re mine to protect.”
The fire alarm starts screaming above us and the sprinklers burst open drenching us with water.
It makes me jump as Sam drops me to my feet and pulls up his trousers. He looks up at the sprinklers now soaking him as he has just soaked me. “That’s our cue to leave.”
“What’s going on?” I question, shimmying my dress back over my thighs, my hair now a wet mess down my back.
Sam pulls back up my fallen strap on my shoulder. “You’ll see.” He smiles.
He takes my hand and leads me over the broken shards beneath our feet.
He slowly opens the door allowing the classical music to flow into our ears.
Guests dressed in black dash through the sprinklers to the exit.
But Sam leads me backwards through the crowd, back towards the VIP space the Belfours have appointed for family only.
I trust in him, not questioning his motives or movement, allowing myself to be led.
The corridor quietens as the sprinklers stop, and the alarm is turned off. Music is still playing through the speakers as we reach the large mahogany doors to the private conference area saved for the men to discuss business without disruption. Sam opens the door and pulls me through.
I am met with Mrs Belfour, Mr Belfour, Greg, my father and my mother sat around a large conference table. My mother looks the part as usual. I avoided her all evening to ensure I didn’t blow her cover.
I look at them all, drenched, angry and not understanding what just happened. Two large men dressed as security tip their heads at Sam and leave.
“You are not leaving us in here with them. We pay you!” Mrs Belfour screams. “What the fuck is going on? You brought us here for safety not to leave us with these… these freaks!”
Greg looks nervous as we enter the room. He shuffles in his seat scared of our presence. The room is dim with the curtains closed. Just a few lamps light the space around us.
Four hooded figures move from the shadows in towards the table. Two more come forwards after shutting the door behind us. They bow towards us as they stop.
“It’s amazing how many witches came out of hiding to help us,” Sam whispers. “We infiltrated their whole security system in a matter of hours.”
They remove their hoods in unison along with their own masquerade masks which drop to the floor.
Standing there is Granny, Aradia, Gloria and Angela from the village. The two behind us I don’t recognise but are older-looking women all dressed in black.
Mrs Belfour scoffs at the sight in front of her and removes her own mask.
Evil flickers in her eyes. “Well, well, well, what a surprise! Hello, Cerci, dear.” She grins with a Cheshire cat smile.
“Hello, Helena,” my grandmother replies, cool and calmly.
Our faces drop – mine, Aradia’s and my mother’s. They know each other?
Helena taps her long red nails on the table in front of her. “So, you ruin my ball, drench the exquisite venue and cause chaos to my guests. What would the Magic Society say, using magic to frighten humans? Tut tut…” She smiles.
“No magic was used, Helena. You know that I’m not you.” My granny doesn’t break eye contact with her.
“Mmm, but still, Cerci, it’s a lot of who-ha over something that is mine. We have an agreement, don’t we, Martin?” She turns to look at my father, who looks at me and nods, his eyes still emotionless.
Helena gestures her hand towards him. “See, nothing for you come in here and stick your old beak in yet again.” Mrs Belfour’s face is full of venom.
“How do you know each other?” I ask, confused like everyone else.
Helena’s eyes dart towards me, “Oh, Cerci didn’t tell you? We have a long relationship, don’t we, Cerci? Your grandmother ruined my life!” Her hands slam on the table.
“You did that to yourself, Helena. You used your magic for awful things, for financial gain, for power and greed. I just let the Magic Society know. They made the decision to strip you of your power.” My grandmother is holding her ground.
Helena rolls her eyes.
Granny turns to me. “Helena and I used to be friends.”
“Used to,” Helena scoffs once more. “Your goody two shoes grandmother threw me under the bus. You see, Harriet, we used to study magic together.”
“You’re a witch?” I ask, still shocked by the news.
“Was,” Granny interrupts. “Helena used her magic for the wrong purposes. Money… love…” She casts her eyes over to Mr Belfour who sits quietly, vacantly.
I actually can’t remember him having any input in anything.
Mrs Belfour has always been the boss. “We follow the Magic Society. We have a code not to use magic for purposes unless good. And never to use it against non-magic folk. But Helena chose to not follow that path, didn’t you? ”