A Wicked Good Witches Paranormal Romance Books 1-7 (Wicked Good Witches Seasons) (86 page)

Melinda flinched as Eva kicked William again, rolling him onto his back.

Riley’s gaze shot sideways, then back to her as if his point had just been proven.

“You’ll never be mine until the vampire is dead.” His eyes stared into hers. Cold. Unfeeling other than rage. One-minded.

The Feyk’s spell had taken over.

Her nightmare was coming to life.

The reality of watching Riley torture William shattered her into pieces.

Melinda could not believe the next words that spewed out of her mouth. “Then free me, Riley. Free me right now and ki-kill him. Get it over with and we can leave here.” She didn’t know if she could survive any scenario that included losing William, but it was a better fate than hours of torture with the outcome still being a painful death.

The death request did not have the effect Melinda hoped it would.

Riley kicked the empty water bucket off the pyre, jumping down, his tone accusatory. “If you don’t love the vampire, why do you care what fucking happens to him?”

“I don’t love him,” she cried despondently. “I don’t love… William.” She was unable to speak his name without pain riding the word.

Riley scowled. His spiteful gaze penetrating her with a level of fear she’d never experienced before. An icy sweat ripped through her and she thought for sure she was passing out. 

How had this happened? How had they fallen so easily into Eva’s trap?

Where were her brothers?

It struck her that they wouldn’t even know this was happening. Possibly for hours. Possibly ever. The rest of her family might be locked up in a cage somewhere else.

Why had she had the dream if there was nothing she could do to stop it?

Just so she could suffer through it twice?

No.

It wasn’t the vision or the reason behind having it, to blame.

It was completely her fault for not sharing it, in its entirety, with the people it mattered to the most.

There was no one else to blame. Only her.

William’s torment, bloodshed, and death, was on her hands, and her hands alone.  

Eva towered over William, a leg on each side of him. She leaned over, to see directly into his eyes.

“Nothing personal, just returning the favor,” she spoke dejectedly. “Oh, wait. It is completely fucking personal.”

His body slid out from under hers. Riley dragged William across the ground like a bag of garbage, towards the pyre opposite Melinda. It took him, plus three Feyk, to hoist William up the pyre and bind him to the stake.

“This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening.” Melinda closed her eyes and opened them, praying she was about to wake up from another dream at any moment.

There was no dream, no nightmare, to wake up from.

No one was going to show up and save the day.

Tears streamed freely. There was no stopping them. She tried to look away as they bound William to the stake, but was unable to do so. Was he conscious? Aware? She sobbed, knowing the answer to those questions.

He was paralyzed, physically. Not mentally. He was still awake and aware in a useless body. Like someone who didn’t go under properly after having anesthesia. And was forced to live a waking nightmare as some painful never-ending procedure was done to them.

William’s physical strength was so weak, he couldn’t even hold up his head. It drooped over in front of him.

Eva jaunted over and climbed his pyre, a disturbing smile on her face.

She grabbed William’s head, hoisting it up, so his eyes could see Melinda tied to the other pyre. 

“So here’s the deal, William. If you beg for death,
and you will...
we’ll light up the pretty little witch and you’ll have a front row seat to watch her burn before you join her.
Got it?
Good.” She dropped his head and jumped down.  

Melinda stared back in complete terror. The reality of what was about to happen, crushing her. Everything started to spin rapidly. If her heart pounded any harder it would burst out of her chest. Splotches of black burst in front of her eyes. 

William’s torture would never end.

He’d never ask for death if it meant ending her life. This was a fact she didn’t need any vision to tell her. It might take her life being threatened by a tortuous death to turn her into a vampire, but William would never request death if it meant taking her with him. 

Riley stood about half way between their pyres, facing William. A fireball danced precariously in his hand.    

Blood rushed to Melinda’s ears.

She screamed.

She could feel it in her gut, but she could not hear it.

Her body shook, her lungs labored in attempt to get enough air.

She struggled in vain to get free of her bonds. 

A voice slipped into her mind, soothing but weak. 

“Don’t be frightened, Melinda. Close your eyes.”

It was William’s voice. Feeble, but certain.

She did not question how she’d heard this, or if it was even real, she just obeyed.

Crushing her eyelids closed as tightly as possible.

She did not witness Riley’s first strike upon William, but the blood drained from her ears and the sounds of it cut into her brain, engraving a permanent scar.

CHAPTER 14

Charlie sped along the road toward home, too many thoughts and concerns racing through his mind. He’d just hung up from one of the most disturbing phone calls of his entire life.

Michael had called to explain what had happened to Mr. Morgan, informing him that Emily was missing. That he and Lizzy were at the mansion, and William had taken off to retrieve Melinda and Lucas after they’d charged off across the Isle chasing a gargoyle. Charlie had lost contact with her, unable to reach her, his calls going directly to voicemail. The world was spinning out of control and he had no idea how to get it to slow down.

After hearing what Eva had done to Emily’s father, Charlie knew without a doubt that she needed to die. And that she’d stop at nothing to get what she wanted. What was that now that her father was dead? Was she planning on carrying out their original plans?

No matter how hard he tried, he could not keep up. Even with his werewolf abilities or the Guardian ring. He was always a step behind. Always catching up. Always just a little too late.

Why couldn’t he get ahead?

Was he just bad at the job?

How had his parents done it?

Charlie didn’t remember his childhood filled with moments like these.

Did they happen, but somehow his parents hid it from him?

The road wasn’t lit well and Charlie bounced around, ignoring the potholes, in a hurry to get home. He needed to come up with an idea. A solid plan to get them back in control. He was tired of being a step behind at every turn.

“What the hell?” he exclaimed, seeing someone staggering in the middle of the road just ahead.

He was lucky to have seen the man at all as he was dressed in dark clothing.

Charlie pulled to a stop, shouting to the man. “Hey, get off the road before you get run over.” He didn’t have the patience to help the man right now.

Probably just a lost, drunken tourist.

He’d have Mack take care of it. He grabbed his phone to call her.

The dazed man spun around, peering at Charlie. He stepped closer, his silhouette drowned in the jeep’s headlights.

Charlie dropped his phone, his fingers no longer able to hold their grip on it. 

It was a ghost he was seeing. Nothing more.

He opened his door and got out of the jeep.

He kept hold of the doorframe for support when his legs faltered underneath him.

The man walked up to him.

“Charlie? Is that you?”

It took Charlie what felt like forever to find his voice.

“It’s really you,” he breathed out. “How? How did you get here?”

“You say that like I’ve been away. It’s only been a few hours, Son.” He looked at Charlie’s face more closely. “You look… different.”

The shock started to wear off, a feeling of comfort spreading throughout Charlie.

Everything would be okay now.

Jack Howard had come home. 

Charlie did not know how it happened, and he did not care.

His father would fix everything.

A WICKED GOOD WITCHES PARANORMAL ROMANCE

BOOK SEVEN

Bite Me Baby:

Who’s afraid of the big bad werewolf?

Starla Silver

CHAPTER ONE

   Jack Howard scrutinized his son, closely. It looked like him, and yet it did not. “You don’t look right,” he told Charlie.

Is it possible, he wondered? That their father had been freed, and was alive, but had no idea over four years had passed since he’d vanished after being taken prisoner by the Soul Hunter.

Confused or not, Charlie couldn’t help himself. He wrapped his arms around his father, tears stinging at his eyes.

“It’s okay, Charlie,” comforted his father. “Whatever it is, it’s okay.”

Charlie pulled back, unable to take his eyes off his father. He looked exactly the same. He hadn’t aged a day. A few stray gray hairs on his head, stubble on his chin. Still rugged and healthy looking as the last day he’d seen him.

“Why don’t we talk while you drive us home,” suggested Jack, a sudden urgency coming over him. “I need some supplies. I’ve got to get back to your mother. She’s in White Pines. I only just got away myself. Got some business to deal with tonight, I’m afraid.”

God. He doesn’t know… he really doesn’t know.

Charlie didn’t know how to tell him. How to tell his father he’d been missing. That their mother, his wife, Catherine, was dead. Only her bones remained in White Pines.

Jack headed toward Charlie’s jeep but he stopped him, gently.

“Dad, um, the truth is... Mom is not waiting for you. There’s no need to rush to White Pines.”

“She got away,” he breathed out in relief. “I guess I was caught inside that thing longer than I thought. How many hours have I been gone? When did your mother get home? Sorry- I guess you’ve all been out looking for me, haven’t you?”

“Dad…” Charlie paused, unable to continue. He was still in disbelief that he was talking to his father.

Jack took a step closer to son, peering into his face. “I can’t quite place what’s different.” Something seemed to be clicking in Jack’s brain. “Why do you look different?” he asked absentmindedly.

“Four years, Dad,” exhaled Charlie. “That’s what’s different. That’s why I look different. You haven’t been gone hours, you’ve been gone years.”

Jack fell back a little, leaning against the jeep. “What? No. No.”

“Dad, you and Mom went searching in White Pines for the power source just over four years ago. You sprung a trap and were captured by something called a Soul Hunter. It kept you prisoner all this time. I haven’t seen you in over four years. That’s why I look different, Dad. I’m
older.
”

“Your… your mother?”

Charlie couldn’t say the words. He tried, but they wouldn’t come out. The pain etched on his face said enough.

“Oh,” was all Jack responded.

Charlie worried his father would go into shock.

How did someone process this sort of thing without going into shock? Without just shutting down? Charlie hated that he needed his father so much at that moment. Needed him to be the man, and witch, he always was.

“We thought we’d lost you both that night. We didn’t know you’d been captured until just a few weeks ago. I have no idea how it is that you’re suddenly walking down the street a free man, but... here you are.”

“Four years...” Jack repeated a few times. “It’s really been that long?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, Dad. I wish I could make this easier for you. The truth is, things are not going so well right now.”

Jack’s head snapped up. “Michael? Melinda? William?”

“They’re fine,” Charlie responded, having no idea that neither Melinda nor William was safe or fine at that moment. “They should all be home by now.” Charlie urged his father to get into the jeep.

Jack did, silently sliding in and letting Charlie shut the door. 

It was a strange ride home, which seemed to take forever. He had a hard time keeping his eyes on the road. He didn’t know what else to say other than to bombard his father with everything going on. He would need a bit of time to adjust to the reality he’d just dropped into. Time Charlie feared they did not have.

He could not fathom losing four years of time in an instant. A lot happened in four years. They’d each grown up in that time. Melinda and Michael had still been in their teens and Charlie just twenty-two when their parents had gone missing.

“Um, Dad,” he started as they neared home. “I don’t want to overwhelm you more than you must already be, but…”

“Go ahead, Son.”

“I think it’s only fair to warn you that there’s been some changes since you left. I don’t want you to freak out when we get home is all.”

“What are you talking about?”

“William suggested we up security at the mansion and I agreed. We’ve had a few problems, but we’ll discuss that later. Anyway, to help out, we now have gargoyles guarding the house.”

“Gargoyles, really?”

“Yeah, I guess they’re like supernatural alarm systems. They can sense evil.”

“I’m aware of what they do,” Jack answered, sounding a bit more like himself. “I just can’t imagine needing them.”

“Times have changed,” Charlie hated to admit.

“I’m starting to get that.”

“Oh, and um, you should be aware that there’s most likely members of the Deane family in the house.”

“Have you gone mad?” exclaimed Jack. “I haven’t come home at all! I’m in some backwards bizarro world.”

Charlie decided to keep the fact that his daughter was dating a member of the Deane family, to himself, for now. Allow his dad to adjust to the idea of Deanes being around. Heck, they were all still getting used to it.

“We might have gone a bit mad, Dad, but we do trust these Deanes. And I promise you’re in the real world.”

His dad tried to speak, but the words came out all at once, and not at all, in a long incoherent stammer.

Charlie chuckled. He missed when his father got so tongue-tied he couldn’t speak coherently. “Dad, I don’t know where to start. So much has happened in the last four years. Just this summer alone. We’re not in a good place right now. We’re under attack and we need all the help we can get.”

“But Deanes, Charlie?” scolded Jack, his tongue less befuddled. “In our home?”

“The gargoyles let them stay,” he pointed out. Although he had yet to see one in action. Regardless, Lucas had been home all afternoon with Melinda and there had been no incident. “Please trust me, Dad. We need their help right now.”

“Who or what is attacking the Isle?” inquired Jack, changing the subject.

“That’s going to take some time to explain.”

Charlie tried to imagine the reaction from his siblings and William when he stepped inside with Jack in tow.

“Four years,” Jack repeated again as Charlie pulled in the driveway.

Charlie parked and turned to him. “Yeah, Dad. But it felt more like twenty.”

His son’s demeanor bothered him; something was very wrong.

“I’m here now, Son.”

Charlie couldn’t respond to that.

Before they exited the jeep, Jack paused.

“Your mother’s body? Did you ever...”

“I’m sorry. Until a few weeks ago, we had no idea where her remains were located. We did try, but we don’t know how to open the doorway under the old tree. Mom is still in there. We hated leaving her...”

“It’s okay, Charlie. At the first chance we can, we’ll go get her. Together, as a family. As soon as possible.” His voice cracked at the end.

Charlie nodded in agreement. Unable to vocalize it. He didn’t quite trust his eyes, almost afraid to blink, fearful that when he did, his father would suddenly vanish.

Even though he’d warned his father about the gargoyles, Charlie jumped when a shadow rushed by him. There was a quick snort followed by the pitter-patter of feet sauntering away from him. He never saw the thing; it never exited the shadows.

Must have been checking us out I guess… and I guess we passed.

Charlie stalled for a minute. A sudden thought plodding through his mind. The gargoyles had sensed nothing evil about his father. This was a good thing; he berated himself for even having the doubt.

“What’s on your mind, Son?”

Charlie shrugged. “I had this sudden doubt, something telling me I should make sure it’s really you.”

Jack stared at him not understanding.

“We’ve had some problems with a shapeshifter.”

“Ah. Yes. I’ve never met one I liked yet. And in that case, yes, you should definitely question! I appear out of nowhere at a time of peril… it’s your job, Charlie. Never be ashamed to do it properly.”

“I don’t need to though. The gargoyles made me think of it. They checked us out, and we passed their evil-sensing test. If William had been with me, he would have been more cautious. He would have made certain when we first found you.”

Jack nodded. A thoughtful look in his eye.

“Are you ready to go inside?” asked Charlie.

Jack let out a hasty breath. “I don’t want to see my baby girl all grown up,” he admitted.

He followed his son up the up the stairs. Charlie opened the door anxiously, hearing Michael and Lizzy in the kitchen. He called out his brother’s name as he entered.

“About time someone got here,” spouted Michael, sounding unhinged. “Melinda and Lucas have disappeared. William went to search for them and hasn’t come back yet. Emily and Riley have been taken by Eva and the Feyk, and…” he stopped, staring at the shape stepping into the house behind Charlie.

“Hello, Michael,” said Jack.

Michael’s gaze flitted back and forth between Charlie and his father.

“I found him walking down the street,” explained Charlie.

“I...” Michael was stupefied. Felt like he’d been sucker-punched.

Just seconds before, he’d been planning on how to locate and rescue Emily while plotting revenge against Eva Jordan. At the same time, worried that Melinda, William, and Lucas had not yet returned after following the gargoyle, which had returned to its post a while ago.

And now his father was standing in front of him.
His father
. Alive.

He raced forward, embracing him.

“I’m sorry,” Jack told him. “Seems I left you all quite suddenly and for a long time.”

“I just don’t believe it,” muttered Michael, stepping back. “How did this happen?”

Charlie shook his head. He had no idea.

“I’m a little confused about that myself,” said Jack. “Things are a little hazy. But Charlie tells me I’ve missed quite a bit. And it’s apparent. Look at you both. My sons. Both men now.” He glanced around. “Where’s Melinda?”

He hadn’t heard Michael’s rant.

Lizzy came into the room answering his question. “She and Lucas, my brother, for all intents and purposes,” she clarified for Jack’s sake, “ran off with one of the gargoyles tracking the Feyk that took Riley… my other brother, who is infected with a rage spell. They haven’t come home and we can’t reach them. William stormed off to track them, and now he’s M.I.A. so it’s just us here.”

“The last time I talked with Melinda she was with Lucas just passing the ferry landing, but her phone line went dead,” informed Charlie.

It didn’t bode well. He turned to his father.

“Dad, this is Lizzy. Lizzy Deane. She’s been helping us.”

Jack’s brow furrowed, but he nodded a curt hello in her direction.

“Yup, I’m a Deane,” she told him, seeing the distrust in his eyes. “I know you just got back and all, probably been through hell, but deal with it, and fast. We’ve got major problems and we need all hands on deck.”

Charlie tossed her a pleading glare. 

“Sorry, speaking the truth.” She turned and disappeared back into the kitchen.

“She is...” Jack trailed off.

“Many things,” smirked Charlie. 

“Including unfortunately, correct,” affirmed Michael. He wanted to sit and talk with his father. To tell him everything that had happened in the last four years, to find out what had happened to him, but there wasn’t time. They had problems piling up, sending them into full crisis mode.

“Should you be in a hospital or something?” wondered Michael.

Charlie hadn’t even thought of that. He’d been in such shock after finding him. 

“No. I’m fine. It’s a little hard to describe really, but it’s sort of like I just got out of a very long, very strange, dream, and yet it feels like just a few hours has passed.”

“Might be better that no one knows your home just yet anyway,” noted Charlie. “We might need a bit of time to come up with an explanation as to where you’ve been.”

“So much to consider,” said Jack, his mind reeling.

Lizzy returned, her attitude softened. She handed Jack a tray holding a plate of food, some water and a mug of coffee.

“Oh that smells good,” said Jack, taking a deep swallow. “Thank you.” 

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I just regained a family. I don’t relish the idea of losing them. And I figured you’re probably famished after four years. It was the first thing I wanted to do after I got back... no, wait, that was tequila…” she trailed off.