Chapter 14 #4
She shrugged. “I got over it a long time ago. You can’t blame people. After all, no one wants to adopt the child of a murderer.” She huffed quietly. “It makes people very nervous.”
“How can you smile about it?”
“There’s no point in being bitter because no one wanted me.
I realized pretty early on that no one was coming to save me, and if I wanted to make something of my life, I was going to have to save myself.
Fortunately, school was always easy for me, so I studied hard and got into college on a full scholarship. ”
“You’ve always been alone?”
“Not completely,” she replied. “In college, I met Mags, Margaret Hale. She was a guest lecturer, and we just kind of hit it off. She’s much older than me, and she seemed to fill all those spaces that were missing.
She became my family. She was the one that encouraged me to study the history of witchcraft, then New England history.
She also helped me get my first couple of books published. ”
A sudden pounding at the door had Olivia rolling her eyes and yanking the throw off her legs. “I can’t believe I thought moving here would mean peace and quiet.”
Theo climbed to his feet and followed her from the room. It was getting late and was already dark outside. He watched as she peered through the peephole and sighed.
“Jake,” she greeted him cautiously as she opened the door. “You don’t look happy. Why do I get the feeling you’re about to give me more bad news?”
“Olive.” He nodded as he stepped through the door, closing it behind him. “Theo.”
“What’s going on?”
He removed his hat with one hand and clasped a manila folder in the other.
“There’s been another disappearance,” he replied. “A nineteen-year-old kid this time.”
“How long has he been missing?”
“Three days.”
“Three days?” Olivia repeated. “Why are we only hearing about this now?”
“Because he was supposed to go visit a friend in Salem. He never made it there, but his parents thought he was there while his friend figured he’d changed his mind when he was a no-show.
It was simply a case of miscommunication.
It was only when he was due back earlier today and never showed that the parents called the friend and realized he was missing. ”
“Damn it,” Olivia whispered. “When the hell is the chief going to figure out it’s not me and actually start looking for the killer? How many more people have to get hurt first?”
“There’s more,” Jake hedged.
“Of course there is.” She sighed. “Well, lay it on me. Short of getting abducted myself, I don’t think my day can get much worse.”
“Do you use the Gas’n’Go about a mile from here?”
“Yes,” she answered. “I’ve used it a couple of times since I got here. It’s the one nearest my house, why?”
“The kid that went missing is Lucas Campbell, and he works there.”
Her eyes went distant as she thought back to the last time she was there. “Tall kid, kinda lanky, dark hair?”
“That’s him,” Jake confirmed.
“Well, that’s just great.” Her heart sank. “That’ll just give Chief Walcott more ammunition.”
“Lucas was last seen three days ago when he finished out his shift. He was supposed to head out to the friend’s straight from work.
The chief wouldn’t let me anywhere near Brody’s crime scene, so I was the one who took the call about Lucas when it came in.
I headed out to the Gas’n’Go, as it was the last place he was seen, and pulled the surveillance tapes.
I printed this from the camera. The footage was from the beginning of Lucas’s shift. ”
He handed Olivia the folder and watched as she flipped it open. Her mouth tightened. She looked down at the grainy surveillance photo and recognized the pale-haired man loitering in one of the aisles, staring at the cashier.
“Who is he?” Theo asked, leaning over Olivia’s shoulder to study the picture as well.
“We don’t know yet,” Jake replied as she handed him back the folder.
“He was at the pub the night Adam disappeared, and I saw him again in town. He’s been watching me. Chief Walcott showed me pictures of him with my father outside Morley Ridge Psychiatric Facility too. They think he’s the one who helped my father escape.”
“Do you think he is responsible for the murders?” Theo asked.
“I think it’s entirely too close for comfort. The Gas’n’Go is only a mile and a half from where Brody’s body was found and about a mile from Olivia’s house. Plus, he seems to have taken an unhealthy interest in Olivia personally, and we know he is working with her father.”
“You think my father is involved in the murders, don’t you?”
“It’s a strong possibility,” Jake admitted reluctantly. “I wish I could get my hands on the files from the original murders.”
“To see if my dad was involved in those too?” she snapped.
“Olive,” Jake replied. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I’m not upset.” She scowled. “But I am tired. You can give Theo a ride back to your place since you’re here.”
“You can’t stay here by yourself,” Jake told her in a firm tone.
“The hell I can’t.”
“Don’t be stupid, Olivia. There have now been two murders near your property and, God forbid, possibly a third, and the main suspect appears to be stalking you.”
“I don’t care, I’m not leaving.” She knew she was being rude, and that Jake was just looking out for her but she couldn’t seem to help the words tumbling from her mouth. The stress of the last weeks was catching up with her and she’d had enough.
There was no way to make them understand she couldn’t leave the house. She was bound it, and to the land. The threads wound around her ankles, sinking into her bones and plunging down into the earth. There was no choice, she had to stay, and she was sick to death of arguing about it.
It felt like everything was closing in. She didn’t want to discuss the murders, or her father, or anything.
All she wanted was for everyone to go away and leave her alone so she could catch her breath.
Panic mixed with the anger and hurt inside her, all of it turning into a messy, churning mass.
Her magic seethed beneath her skin reacting to her anger and she knew if she let go it would consume her.
“Olivia,” Theo spoke up. “Jake may have a point. You are too vulnerable here by yourself.”
“You think I can’t take care of myself?” She had to keep a tight leash on her power, but her grip was already slipping.
She was so fucking angry. Who were they to come into her house and tell her what to do.
She’d spent the last two decades taking care of herself because no one else wanted to, and now they show up and start making demands.
Her eyes blazed pure gold and her hair whipped back from her face, as if caught by an unseen wind. Her skin began to glow, and her hands trembled and twitched, sparks flying from her fingertips to singe the rug.
She fought to control the wave of heat and anger inside her, but the power whipped through her, white-hot and furious. Flames erupted from her fingers as she curled them in, making it appear as if she were holding two blazing spheres in her hands.
“Olive.” Jake stepped toward her, only to be met with a wall of heat.
“Get out!” she hissed. She was drowning in heat and flame. She tried to stop it, to rein the fire back in, but it was too much.
“Olivia.” Theo’s voice broke through her rage.
“Don’t,” she gasped as the flames from her hands began to coil up her arms and the first traces of panic began to claw at her.
Never before had she conjured so much raw power, it was beyond anything she’d ever experience, and all of a sudden, she doubted she had the strength to control it or rein it back in.
“Olivia, look at me.” His voice came again, firm and reassuring.
“I can’t.” She tried to look at him, but her vision was misted by a thin film of red and gold. “I can’t control it right now.”
“Yes, you can.” He took a step toward her.
She could feel the fire burning through her body, consuming her. If she let go, she would become a creature of flame and ash. She wanted it, wanted to let go and become the fire.
“Olivia.” This time there was a note of calm command in Theo’s voice, almost as if he could sense her slipping away. “Look at me.”
He reached for her.
“THEO!” Jake snapped.
“It’s okay, Jake,” he replied. “She won’t hurt me.”
“You don’t know that.” Jake stumbled back, feeling the wall of heat in front of him.
“I do know,” Theo answered.
“Don’t.” Her voice sounded deeper, unlike her own. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t.” He stepped closer.
Fear flooded her veins, cold and icy, in direct contrast to the fire burning through her veins. If he touched her, he would burn, consumed by her magic.
She couldn’t see it herself, but she was magnificent; a siren’s call, Theo thought, and he was helpless to resist. She was a creature of pure gold and light and heat. He couldn’t say how he knew her magic wouldn’t harm him, he only knew it, right down to his very bones.
Theo held out his hand with not so much as a tremor. Even through the turbulent whip of her power engulfing her senses she could see him reach for her but stop short of touching her. Instead he seemed to be waiting.
Raising her hand slowly she held it parallel to his, almost palm to palm but not yet touching. Tiny microbursts of magic crackled along her skin, but Theo didn’t flinch, he simply waited, his eyes large and dark against his skin.
Unable to stop herself she closed the gap and pressed her hand to his. She gasped at the shock of electricity that jolted up her arm.
Theo sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes widening as their skin met, clearly he’d felt it too. Her magic flames wound around their joined hands as their fingers entwined, and then down their arms, binding them to each other.
It was like the whole world disappeared around them. All Olivia could see was Theo as light and magic swirled around them, cocooning them. They leaned in, each naturally gravitating to the other, as if pulled by invisible threads.
Theo lifted his other hand, sliding it along her jaw as she lifted her face to him. His head dropped, his lips hovering so close to hers, and gaze fixed on hers.
How was this possible?
Her gaze dropped to their entwined hands. How was he able to withstand her magic. Not only withstand it but revel in it. There was a connection between them, one she couldn’t even begin to pick apart but she felt it, right down to her bones.
Without stopping to think she rose up on her toes and pressed her mouth to his, feeling his sharp intake of breath. His lips were soft, the taste of him addictive. Their hands parted and even as he continued to cup her face with one hand, the other snaked around her waist, drawing her in.
His big, hard body pressed against her felt so right, and her magic weaved around them, circling them like a comet. The torrent of anger and frustration she’d felt drained away to be replaced with heat and desire, and something else she couldn’t name.
Her hands slide into the silky locks of his dark hair, gripping as she opened her mouth and the kiss caught light. The ground beneath their feet began shaking violently, jolting them both from the hazy web of seduction they’d found themselves caught in.
They both stumbled back as the heaving ground stilled. Olivia’s magic banked, the brightly colored flames dissipating rapidly. The connection between them snapped, leaving them both stood staring at each other, wide-eyed and breathing hard.
“What the fuck just happened?” Jake exclaimed loudly.
They turned their heads in his direction, speechless and clearly having forgotten he was even there.
Olivia raised her fingers to her mouth, grazing her kiss swollen lips, her eyes wide. “I… I can’t–”
Not sure how to finish that sentence she did the only thing she could, she turned and bolted into the library.
Slamming the door behind her, she fell back against it.
Her heart pounding, and her breathing ragged as the last vestiges of adrenaline pumped through her veins.
Feeling her legs give out on her, she slid down until she sat on the floor.
She’d never lost control like that before, not of her magic and not of herself.
Closing her eyes she let her head fall back against the wood with a dull thud and forced herself to take a slow breath in an attempt to calm her racing pulse.
What the hell was that?
She had no explanation for what just happened or why. They only thing she knew with any degree of certainty is that what she had felt for Theo in that moment was more frightening than the thought of a murderer loose in her woods.