Chapter 23 - Gabriella
I was sitting in the living room reading a book, or trying to. Lucia was sitting on the other side of the couch, flipping through the TV channels. The space was quiet between us, a little tense but not like before.
“Do you have any good shows in mind? I can’t seem to find anything good.”
“I like movies more,” I answered, looking over the top of my book. I stared at her, taking in how relaxed she was. I wondered if maybe I had been too rough on her before. Maybe she was innocent and just trying to figure things out.
I heard the doorbell, and Lucia looked away from the TV. “Are you expecting anyone?”
“It’s eight in the morning, what do you think?”
She smirked as she got herself up and walked toward the door. She pulled it open, and I was a little surprised to see Asher. “Hey, ladies.”
“Asher, what brings you here? Westley is working.”
“I know. I actually came to see if you guys wanted to join me for breakfast. Westley should be getting off in an hour or so, and we could meet him.”
“Oh, that sounds kind of nice. I need to change first.”
The alarms blared, and every hair on my body started to rise. Asher’s face fell, and Lucia quickly covered her ears. I felt panic starting to settle in, knowing that Westley was out there. I remembered how he had been injured just the other day. His wounds were healed, but he had a scar.
I pulled myself up. “Asher, we need to go help.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “The safest place for you is here. Westley wouldn’t want you out there if something is going on.”
“But what if he needs help? You saw what happened last time. They need all the help they can get.”
“Gabriella, trust me. He is going to be okay, and you need to stay here. It’s the safest place.”
I threw my hands up and ran them through my hair as I started to pace up and down the living room. Lucia moved closer, still holding her hands over her ears. “How long does that go off?”
“It should turn off soon,” Asher explained, giving her a sympathetic smile.
“What does it mean, though? Is this another false alarm?”
“That something bad is happening,” I said, turning back to Asher. Anger started to build. “You have to let me out. They might need our help. They might need your help.”
Asher frowned, crossing his arms. “Gabriella, you have to trust Westley. They will be able to handle it. And he would want me to watch you if something does get here.”
“And what about Hazel? She’s out there. Aren’t you worried about her?”
He snorted.
“She’s with the witches, I’m sure she’s fine,” Lucia said, offering a smile. “I’m sure she’s at the healing center, busy with work.”
I felt pure anger flare and turned toward Lucia. I narrowed my eyes at her. “You know what. I’m getting really tired of your fake care act!”
Lucia froze, looking at me like I’d just slapped her. “What? What are you talking about?”
“You are so fake! If you truly cared about my sister or me, you would want to get out there and make sure she’s safe! But you don’t because everything about you is fake! And I’m tired of it!”
Lucia just looked at me, stunned, with shock and confusion on her face. She opened her mouth but closed it quickly.
“Gabriella, that’s a little harsh,” Asher said, walking closer to me. “I understand you’re worried, but take a moment. I think you’re letting your anger get the better of you.”
“I’m done!” I snapped, pointing my finger at Lucia, ignoring Asher.
“We have done nothing but open our home up to you! I know you took Hazel’s jewelry!
I know you stole money from her and her credit card!
I know you’ve been on my work computer! I know you took my library card!
I know it’s been you! So stop acting like you are innocent because you’re not. ”
Lucia stammered. “What are you talking about? What jewelry? And why would I be on your computer? What money?”
“Don’t try to bullshit me! I know because I saw the jewelry in your nightstand. I know it was you who’s been trying to get onto my computer! And when Westley gets back, you are out of this house!”
I watched tears grow in her eyes, and Asher walked closer. “Gabriella, now is not the time.” Asher’s voice rose. “You need to calm down. We can have a calm, collected discussion when Westley gets back.”
“Right.” I threw my hands up, taking a step away from them. I need space and distance between her. “I need a minute.” I turned, storming down the hallway and into Westley’s bedroom. I slammed the door shut and sighed. Anger was pumping through me, and I started to pace in the room.
I kept wondering if he was okay, if anything was going to happen to him. I pulled my phone out and called Hazel. But like always, it went to voicemail. A small voice told me she was likely working with the other witches. But another voice, a louder voice, told me I needed to see for myself.
Anything could happen, and I wasn’t going to sit here and wait for it. I needed to make sure they were both safe. I turned around and looked into the bathroom, noticing the window was still open from my shower earlier.
I hurried into the bathroom and shoved the window open further.
The window blew, and I jumped back quickly, grabbing a thick sweater and pulling it on.
I dug around for a hat and pulled on a thin knitted one.
I grabbed my purse that I had thrown on the bed earlier.
I headed back into the bathroom, and I hoisted myself up the window.
I crawled out, moving as quickly as I could.
I landed in the snow outside and screamed internally as the wind hit me.
I bit down on my cheek and hoisted myself up. I headed around the house and started heading toward my car. I started my car up and drove across town toward the healing center.
I clutched the steering wheel tightly, feeling my legs shaking. I parked in front of the center and hurried inside.
I wrapped my arms around my middle and frowned. I walked over toward the front counter and rang the bell. One of the witches came toward the front and smiled. “Gabriella, hey. What brings you here?”
“I came to just check on Hazel. Makes sure everything was okay since the alarm went off.”
She frowned. “We haven’t seen Hazel for a couple of days.”
My body felt cold. “What?”
“Yeah, we haven’t seen her for a few days. She’d been acting a little weird the last time we saw her. We figured maybe things were going on, and she needed a little time to get stuff together.”
I shook my head, not understanding. How could she not be there? “So, you’re saying she isn’t here?”
She nodded. “No, she’s not here.”
Panic made my heart rate spike, and I turned, practically running out of the center. I quickly tried to think of what she would be, but nothing came to mind. She was always here. She always seemed to come here, so where else would she possible go?
I chewed on my cheek and scanned the parking lot for her car. I looked further down, checking the road for her vehicle. But there was nothing.
And then I spotted her car. It sat near the woods on the road right in front of it. I panted for air, feeling fear like the day we lost everything.
I ran across the street, my legs moving faster than I ever thought was possible. I arrived at her car and quickly scanned it, finding her phone and purse inside. I looked back toward the woods.
“Hazel!” I yelled her name, tears building in my eyes.
I stepped around her car and headed into the woods. I moved quickly, pushing past bushes and over rocks. I was practically running as I looked around, yelling her name over and over again.
I knew this was wrong, and I had no idea what was out here. I had no idea why the alarm bell was going off, and I could be running into danger. But I couldn’t stop myself. I needed to protect her even if it meant getting hurt myself.
I came up the incline and found a person standing a few yards away from me. I felt like I could suddenly breathe because I knew it was Hazel. She was standing with her back to me, staring into the woods.
“Hazel!” I yelled her name, starting down the incline, but she didn’t move. She didn’t even look over her shoulder like I expected.
“Hazel! What are you doing!” I finally made it down the incline, just a few feet behind her now. “We shouldn’t be out here.”
Hazel didn’t move, almost like she was frozen. I started to walk closer, feeling something was coming off of her. The hair on my neck stood up, and I stopped just a foot behind her now. “Hazel?” Her name came out softer this time, almost a whisper.
Her head moved as she looked at me. My body froze because I was looking at my sister, but at the same time, I wasn’t. She looked through me like I wasn’t even there. Her eyes were darker than usual, and her skin was paler, as if she were sick.
I then felt it. It was a dark energy emanating from her. I took a step back, trying to process what was happening.
Hazel smiled, but it wasn’t hers. It didn’t reach her eyes like it normally did. Then Hazel spoke. “You are so easy to read. I knew you would follow me. You couldn’t deny looking to make sure your sister was safe.”
“Who are you?” I asked, taking another step back.
She continued to smile, and then I watched as her face shifted, her skin slithered like an animal, and a new person stood before me. She had dark black hair that reached her back, with pale skin. I watched as fangs poked out from her lips and realized she was a vampire hunter.
“This will make it easier for me. I won’t have to hunt you down.” She took a few steps toward me, and I stumbled back. I wanted to scream, but my throat seemed to close, leaving me voiceless.
Just then, I watched as a pair of hands came up, smacking the back of her head. The woman tumbled forward, and I took in Lucia as she stood holding a rock.
My mouth dropped in shock as she hurried past the women toward me. She grabbed my arm and spoke in a hurry. “We need to move now.”
But the woman was already pulling herself up. She looked at us, pissed now, her fangs protruding further out. Her eyes were a deep red now, and blue veins seemed to pop from her skin.
“We need to run,” Lucia said, tugging harder on my arm. But I knew we wouldn’t get far if we ran. She would catch up to us in no time, and we would be screwed. The only thing we could do was fight.
I pulled Lucea behind me and took a deep breath, focusing on my magic. I felt that sensation roll over my fingers and through my palms. I knew that feeling and found I loved it the more I used it. It was something I knew I could use to keep me and the people I loved the most safe.
“Oh, the little one has magic,” the vampire cooed, starting to circle us. I moved, keeping Lucia behind me. I made sure to keep my shoulders back and stand tall even though I was terrified.
“If you come near me, I’ll use it,” I warned.
“I’d like to see you try,” she growled just a second before she ran at us. I pulled my hand up, forcing my magic out. I watched as it slammed into the vampire, knocking her back a few feet. She screamed, and I forced it forward.
My arms shook, and my vision started to blur, but I didn’t stop. If I were going to save both of us, I needed to do this.
The vampire screamed even louder. The sound echoed around the woods. I remembered being that small person, wishing I could save the people from them, and now I was that person.