Chapter 13 - Gabriella
I sipped my coffee and stared down the hallway toward Westley’s room. I knew he still had not gotten up, and instead of avoiding him, I was trying to act like I wasn’t bothered. My hands were tight on my mug, unsure of what I was going to say.
I heard a door open, and I sat up a little taller. Hazel came out of her room, and I sank a little. She came down the hallway toward the kitchen and raised an eyebrow at me. “You look like you’re going to vomit.”
“Do I?” I asked, reaching for my phone to look at myself. I didn’t think I looked different, maybe a little whiter.
She nodded as she walked past me into the kitchen. She poured herself a mug, added creamer, and walked back toward me. She sat down next to me and tilted her head. “Something on your mind?”
I was tempted to tell her what happened last night, but I couldn’t. Not until I knew how I felt about it. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t discuss the other stuff that had been on my mind.
“Do you remember when Mom brought us to see Ruth?”
Hazel paused her mug, her eyes glancing at me. I could see a hurt look cross her face. “Yes, why do you bring that up?”
“I was just thinking about it the other day. Marium had misplaced a spell book at the library, and it made me start to think about that day.”
Hazel’s throat bobbed, and she glanced down at her mug. She shook her head. “Yeah, I remember that day.”
“Do you feel anything is missing?” I asked. “I never had my magic, but you did. Did you ever feel like a part of you was missing?”
Hazel nodded, her lips forming a tight line. “I felt like someone flicked a light off inside me. I miss it.” I could see the hurt on her face, a look I hadn’t seen on her in a long time.
“You work with witches. Is there a way to ever get it back? I mean, if you miss it so much, have you asked?”
She shook her head. “I have, and there isn’t. I actually thought maybe there would be, but no. They said once it’s stripped, it’s gone.”
My heart sank. So, what I was feeling must not have been magic. If we couldn’t get our magic back, what was I feeling? It didn’t make sense.
“Why do you ask?” she asked, looking at me with narrowed eyes now.
I shrugged, “I was just wondering. I never had magic, and I was wondering about it. That’s all.”
She took a couple of sips of her mug. “How are things with the hubby?”
“Would you quit calling him that?” I asked. “It’s fake. It’s a fake marriage, so there is no need to call him that.”
She smirked. “Oh, but it makes it so much funnier this way.”
I rolled my eyes. “We are fine.”
“I thought you were better than fine. I saw you guys out for the light festival. You guys looked like you were enjoying each other.”
“We were acting, Hazel. We are supposed to look like that.”
She raised an eyebrow at me. “Hmmm, but were you? You can’t fake some things. You guys were having a fun time, whether you want to admit it or not.”
I thought about how we had laughed, how we both ended up having a good time going from shop to shop.
“You can’t lie. I know you,” Hazel added. “You had a good time.’
“Fine, we were having a good time. But that’s it. Nothing else happened.”
“Uh-huh,” she laughed as she took another sip from her mug. She glanced at her phone and frowned. “Shit, I didn’t realize how late it is.”
“It’s only eight.”
She pulled herself up. “I know, but I told the others I would meet them there early to help us restock the emergency supplies.”
I frowned, feeling like I was seeing less of her since she started helping them. I knew it was stupid to be jealous, because this is what I wanted for her, but I missed having time together. To joke and laugh about stupid things.
“When are you going to be home?” I asked. “I could order Chinese in, and we could do movie night.”
Hazel smiled. “That would actually be really fun. We haven’t done that in a while.”
“Great. Just text me when you’re going to be getting off.”
I waved her off and finished my mug. I headed to my bedroom, planning to shower and get started on some work in my room. I grabbed my towel from behind my room door and pulled it open. I froze as Westley was on the other side. He was yawning as he stood there, looking like he had just woken up.
“Westley.”
“Morning,” he said. “Did you sleep well?”
My mind went back to last night. My face went a little hot as it replayed over in my head. “I did.”
“Good,” he rolled his shoulders, and I bit hard on my cheek. “And you?”
A small smile slipped on his face. “I slept really well.”
I felt my face go even hotter. I stumbled for words. “That… that’s good.” Seriously? That good? Come on.
He chuckled again. “I was just about to start breakfast. Do you want some?”
Before I could answer, his phone started to ring. He pulled his phone up, and all the charm drained from his face. “What’s wrong?” I asked, feeling my stomach drop.
“Shit, it’s Brandon.” Westley pulled his phone up and answered it. “Yeah?”
I watched his face shift around, his lips pulled into a tight frown. I knew instantly that something had happened. This was the face he had when danger was around the corner.
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Westley ended the line.
“What happened?”
“Another attack. I have to go. Stay here.” Westley moved, hurrying down the hallway. I watched as he pulled his shoes on and was out of the house in a minute. I swallowed, chewing on my cheek, wishing he would stay safe.
I paced the hallways, feeling energy bouncing around through me. I heard and saw enough from our town to know that they were up against creatures that were cold-blooded murderers.
I froze, remembering that Hazel was out of the house. I quickly yanked my phone out and texted her. I stared at my phone waiting for her to respond, but she didn’t. So, I called her. I rang a few times and went to voicemail. So, I called again. Voicemail once again.
I chewed on my nail as I walked toward the front door. I grabbed the handle and stopped. Westley told me to stay still. I had no idea where this sighting was. No idea how many there were. I should stay here, but how could I?
I grabbed my boots and yanked on my jacket. I hurried outside to my car and once more tried to call Hazel. Voicemail.
I drove across town to the healing center. I parked in a panic now. I had never been here, so I was a little surprised to see how packed it was. Worry built up higher.
I hurried inside, only to find the front was packed. People were crying, and a mother was rocking her child in her arms. I looked past the counter and found rows of beds. I scanned them, looking for Hazel.
I took in a few other witches moving around. A woman was holding the arm of a little kid, healing a cut. Another was cleaning a man’s feet. I moved closer to the counter, leaning to the side to see further down.
“Are you needing help?” a small woman spoke up. She was maybe five feet, sitting in a chair behind the counter. She had her hair cut in a bob, and it was deep red.
“No, I ummm… I’m looking for Hazel. Is she here?”
The woman’s eyes lit up. “Hazel? Oh, she is so sweet. Are you her sister? You look exactly like her. She’s on the way back in the storage room doing inventory. Just walk all the way down and to the right.”
I gave her a nod and started down the row of beds. The air smelled different, like there was something in the air. I couldn’t put my finger on it. I listened as the witches moved quickly, talking about how everyone was going to be feeling better in just a little bit.
I made it to the back and took a right. I found Hazel on the ground, her hands in a box with a clipboard in her lap. She was counting. “Twenty two, twenty three…”
“Hazel.”
Her head snapped up, and she looked at me. “Gabriella. What are you doing here?”
“I called you several times, and you didn’t answer me. I was worried.”
She gave me a look. “Worried about what?”
“There was a hybrid in the vicinity, and I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
She pulled herself up and patted at her pants. “I’m here, safe. I didn’t realize you called. My phone is up front.”
Hazel tilted her head as she looked at me. I was sure I looked a bit of a mess with how quickly my mind spiraled. “I’m okay. The building is in the center of town, so I’m honestly in the safest place there is.”
“Hazel, we need an extra pair of hands. Could you come out here for a minute?”
Hazel looked past me, then back at me. “I have to get back to that. Why don’t you go home, and I’ll call you when I’m done. We can still do our movie tonight.” Hazel gave me a tight smile before she slipped past me. I stood still for a moment, trying to calm my nerves.
I slipped out and found her helping another witch with a child. She was holding the little girl’s hand, telling her that she was brave, while the witch waved her hand over her foot that was bent the wrong way.
I left, planning to head home. I didn’t want to get in the way of things, and I didn’t have any way to help with the hybrid, so it was best I just stay out of the way.
I headed for my car when I spotted Kyle getting out of a truck right next to it. My stomach dipped low. Shit.
“Well, if it isn’t Gabriella. Did you bring another hybrid into Belrose? You just causing even more problems today?”
I bit my tongue, trying to get to my car, but he blocked me. Kyle stepped in my way, puffing out his chest. “Got nothing to say to that? Why don’t you just admit to it?”
“Kyle, just let me go. I have nothing to do with this.”
“I don’t believe you one bit,” he snarled, spit landing on me. I quickly wiped it away, trying to push down the irritation. “You and your sister are nothing but problems that are waiting to kill someone. I see right through your act.”
I swallowed back my anger, knowing fighting back wasn’t going to help me in the long run. “Move, Kyle.”
His shadow crowded over me now. “Come on, show your colors, Gabriella.”
“Shut up,” I snapped, having had enough. “We have done nothing wrong. We have kept our peace, yet you attack us over and over as if we’ve done something. You have no evidence to back up your words. So, why don’t you just give it up?”
He shoved me now, and I stumbled back, slamming into the car behind me.
I quickly placed my hands on the car, trying to steady myself as he stepped closer.
My hands were shaking as I tried to take slow breaths in.
“What are you going to do about it? Hmmm? You and your sister are nothing but disgusting witches that are leeches just waiting for their next victim.”
Anger built up higher, and I felt my hands tingling. It spread over my fingers and up my arms. “Stop talking about my sister.”
“What are you going to do about it? Show your true colors and stop acting like you’re innocent? Even if you did, you’re no match for me.”
He shoved me again, and I threw my hands up to shove at him.
I just wanted to put a few inches between us so I could slip past him.
But suddenly the tingle turned into something warmer, and blue sparks flew between us.
Kyle was shot back, slamming into his truck.
He dented it before, fumbling to the ground.
My eyes widened as I looked down at my hands and then back at him. I kept seeing the sparks like they were still in the air. It wasn’t possible that I just did that, but I had. My hands were shaking now, and that tingling feeling was not leaving.
He coughed, holding his side as he groaned. “Wait till I get my hands on you. I’m going to fucking kill you.”
I took deep breaths, feeling like I wanted to fight him. That anger was still simmering beneath wanting to get him to just finally leave me alone. But I also know what this meant. If I stayed, worse things would happen.
I hurried and opened my car door and hopped in. I started my car up, not even giving myself a second to buckle in before I sped off.
My entire body was shaking as I ran home. I went into my room and yanked out my suitcase. I threw it open and started throwing clothes into it. I knew we could only have half an hour tops before word was going to get out.
I yanked my phone out and called up Hazel. It rang for a few minutes before going to voicemail. I called again and again until she finally answered. “Jesus Christ, Gabriella! I told you I was fine.”
“You need to come home, now,” I said in a broken voice. I hurried into her room and went straight into her closet. “We have to leave.”
She was silent for a moment. “What are you talking about? Gabriella, what are you doing? Are you packing? Do I hear you packing?”
“I can’t explain right now, but we have to go.” I yanked clothes off hangers and stuffed them into the bag.
“Gabriella, what is going on? You sound panicked. What happened?”
I shook my head, not having a moment to explain. We didn’t have the time. “I can tell you later. You need to leave right now. We have to go.”
I hurried back down the hallway and froze when I heard the door open. “I’m home.” Westley walked into the house and turned. He froze when he spotted me. I knew how this looked. Me in a panic, the bag full of clothes half-dragging on the ground.
His face dropped instantly. “Are you serious right now? What the hell are you doing?”