Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
Gross!
“What?” He sputtered and his face turned green like the sour grape juice.
Oh dear, maybe I gave him too many drops? Or not enough? Was my measuring off?
He took a few steps back and his tea fell to the planks at our feet, making a mess.
“Why would you think that?” He shook his head, and fire engulfed his whole body. Part of the reason I chose our meeting place at the gazebo was for this. Ethan had an affinity for fire, and I could push him in the lake if needed.
Then, as if wished away, the fire vanished and a green-faced Rylan stood in front of me.
My eyes widened and he saw me staring, my hand covering my mouth.
“Shit.” Fire covered him again and then he was Ethan once more. “Oh fuck.” He cursed and a sound I really didn’t want to hear came out of him. Gurgling in his stomach, then an explosion.
Ethan shit his pants.
“Oh, my God! Ethan! I’m so—”
I froze and his fire erupted again. His form changing from Rylan to Headmaster Sprucian to himself then to his tablemate in potions class, and back to Rylan.
“What the fuck is happening?” He gripped the railing as more horrid sounds came from his back end.
“Temperance!” Rylan ran down the path and paused at the gazebo entrance when he saw himself white knuckling the railing while shitting his jeans.
“You did this! You fucker! Always there to steal my thunder.” Ethan gritted his teeth, and it was weird seeing Rylan’s face but hearing another’s voice come out.
My Rylan ignored him and cautiously walked closer to me. “What is happening?”
“She’s mine, you fuck face. You should have died in that fucking fire. Fuck.” Another grunt rumbled from his chest before vomit shot out of his mouth and yellow chunks of food hit the tips of my shoes.
Gross!
“So, it was you?” my Rylan asked as his hand wrapped around mine. We moved toward the gazebo opening slowly, and cautiously. Ethan shifted into himself, and back to Rylan again. Looks like his magic was unstable.
As if to prove my thoughts, he vomited fire, and that didn’t go away immediately.
“You have been thwarting my second chance since day one. Embarrassing me, stepping in to get the girl that I chose. Of course she’d go for you. But not anymore. Once you’re gone, I’ll have proven myself as the superior choice. Stronger.” Vomit.
“Smarter.” Diarrhea.
“More handsome.” He coughed and I couldn’t help my face from breaking.
I felt bad for the guy. I obviously messed something up in my potion. I was a new witch, but this guy was delusional. All pity and uncertainty I had earlier fled. He was nuts.
Maybe it made me a bitch, but he tried to harm many classmates with his stunts. Piper included. I didn’t feel bad for his recent case of the shits and fire puke.
He’d survive, hopefully behind bars.
Ethan changed back to himself and laughed, fire dripped from his hands, hissing as it landed on the cool wood.
Suddenly, the sound of heels stomping cut off by a shriek had our heads turning toward the path in unison. “You’re going to marry me, Rylan, and fix my family’s embezzling charges. Or the girl dies.”
Delanie Templeton stared at us with black racoon-eyed makeup and a silver gun in her hand.
What the fuck was going on? Were we in some fucked up story because this was the dumbest plot twist ever.
“What the fuck, Delanie?” Ethan spat and stepped forward. The smell of him wafted up with each movement, as did the smoke from flames. Together it was a nasty combo. If you ever lit a bag of dog poo on fire at someone’s doorstep, then you know the smell.
“You promised me Rylan if I helped you,” she hissed at him. “Sure, babe, you were fun for a distraction, but I wanted the real deal. You don’t even compare to him. Since you failed to get me my happily ever after, I’m gladly taking away yours.”
Real fear coated my throat, clogging the path for me to speak with a gun pointed my way. Rylan casually stepped closer, his body inching in front of mine.
“That’s not the deal!” Ethan shouted, raised his hand, and a fire ball shot from his palm toward the pageant queen. She dodged it and Rylan tossed me over his shoulder to run. Only we didn’t make it a full step before Ethan grabbed my arm and yanked me down.
“Temperance, give me a try. I promise I’ll—” He burped in my face, and I choked on the smell.
“I’m done playing the nice girl. I didn’t win Miss Kentucky by playing nice. I did what it took to win.” Delanie aimed the gun again.
This was it? I was going to die surrounded by fire, diarrhea, and drama.
Everything happened all at once. Ethan pulled me closer, Rylan covered my body with his, a shot was fired, and I screamed.
The whole gazebo flooded with light, daisies, and splatters of blood.