Coven (14 page)

Wonderful
. “You’re wrong, Dad. I’m not
attracted to Jett—I mean, he’s super hot, but he’s a jerk. You
must’ve sensed my irritation with him.”

“
And I will tell you, again, what I said
a minute ago. Stop lying to yourself. Just because you find him
attractive doesn’t mean your feelings for Seth are any less
real.”

“
I thought you didn’t want me to date
anyone. Now you’re pushing me toward Seth?”

“
I’ve seen the competition and I’m
touting the lesser of two evils,”
he replied with a wry
chuckle.
“Speaking of Seth, I was surprised he wasn’t with
you.”

“
He left before the end of school. The
football team had some passing league today with a neighboring
school.”
A text from Seth was waiting for me after practice and
had filled me in on the details.

“
Then why wasn’t Jett with him?”

I shrugged.
“I think Jett plays defense.
Seth is the quarterback.”

“
I hope both those guys play fair and
don’t use their powers to give them an athletic advantage.”

“
I guess we’ll find out when the season
officially starts, won’t we?”

Pulling into an unfamiliar parking lot, he
shut off the bike.
“You’re probably right. I just don’t care for
cheaters.”

“Where are we?” I asked normally, removing
my helmet.

“Essex Street,” he replied. “Remember, I
said I had a surprise for you? Well, this is part of it. I want to
introduce you to someone.”

Draping his arm around my shoulders, he gave
me a squeeze as he guided me toward the street of shops that was
closed off to vehicle traffic and only open to pedestrians.

“So, what is this surprise?”

“You’re gonna have to wait a few minutes.
Patience.”

“Yeah. I get my patience from you.”

Laughing, he squeezed me, again. “I know and
I’m sorry. I promise it will be worth the wait.” Leading me to a
metaphysical store called Bell’s Book and Candle, he held the door
open and I went inside, looking around the welcoming,
well-maintained space.

“Vance!” I heard a shriek and suddenly a
pretty dark haired woman practically launched herself across the
space between us. Grabbing him, she hugged him tightly, laughing
and smiling as he did the same. Pulling back, she placed both hands
on either side of his face and kissed him full on the lips.

Who the hell was this lady and why was she
kissing my dad? More importantly, why was he letting her?

As if they sensed my discomfort, they broke
apart and both looked over at me.

“Please forgive me,” the woman spoke and I
noticed she had an accent, but it seemed a bit muddled to me—maybe
British? Or Australian? I wasn’t really sure. “You must be Kenna.
Your mum and dad have told me so much about you.”

“Portia wanted to come see you, too, but
there was a minor emergency she had to help take care of at work,”
my dad said. Their conversation caused my hackles to lower.
Obviously Mom knew of and liked this woman. “Kenna, this is Belinda
Bell.”

“Bels,” she corrected with a smile as she
warmly shook my hand. “Everyone calls me Bels.” She glanced back at
my dad. “You have no idea how much I love your father.” Um, I was
pretty sure I did after her enthusiastic greeting. There was
definitely something going on between them.

“He’s a great guy,” I agreed, still feeling
displaced and awkward. I was sure I’d never seen my dad kiss anyone
besides my mom—other than family, and that was usually a hug and
maybe a kiss on the cheek for his mom.

“Your dad saved my life, once, and the life
of my mother, too.” She explained.

“Not really her mom,” Dad interjected. “She
wasn’t actually in any danger.”

“True, but we didn’t know that at the
time.”

I gave up trying to guess what was
happening. “Can someone please explain? I’m so confused.”

“Your grandpa, Damien, came here and stole
Hecate’s Box from Bels, then kidnapped her to use her blood in the
ritual to claim possession of the souls in the underworld. He
intended to kill her.”

“And I would’ve died in that hellish circle
had your dad not been able to pull me out of it. As far as I’m
concerned, he has my devotion for the rest of my life. So when he
called and asked if I’d be willing to give you a job, I was
ecstatic.”

“I’m going to work here?” I glanced back and
forth between them and my dad nodded.

“Your mom said that you want a car and
you’re willing to work to pay for it. I thought that was a great
idea. So, if you’re good with this, Bels is offering you a job to
help you make the payments.”

“Seriously?” Now I was the one bounding over
to hug my dad in a much similar fashion to Bels. “Oh my gosh! I’m
so excited! Thank you!”

“You’ll have to keep your grades up, though,
or you lose it.”

“Not a problem. I can do this.” Releasing my
dad, I turned to Bels. “Thank you so much. When do you want me to
start?”

“How about tomorrow? I’ll train you for a
couple weeks and if you feel okay with everything after that, you
can run things by yourself on occasion.”

“That sounds awesome!” I was so thrilled at
this opportunity.

“Well, then, this is all working out just
fine. I’m so happy your family has moved here. It will be great to
see you all the time.”

“We’re glad to be here. You should join us
for dinner this week at our new place.”

“I’d love that, Vance. I really would.” Bels
was practically beaming at his suggestion and I wondered if my dad
realized she was completely and totally infatuated with him. Her
aura positively sparkled with attraction.

“Perfect. I’ll let Portia know and she will
be in touch with you.”

“Sounds great! I look forward to hearing
from her. It was so nice to meet you, Kenna.”

“Nice to meet you, too. See you
tomorrow.”

Dad and I left the store together and I
couldn’t resist a quick glance backward. Bels was still standing at
the window, smiling and waving. I waved back.

“You know she likes you, right? As in,
likes you
, likes you.”

Dad just laughed. “She’s fine, I promise.
Just grateful.”

“Dad, I can see her aura. That woman would
throw you into bed faster than you’d know what hit you.”

“No, she wouldn’t. She loves and respects
your mom too much.”

“I’m serious, Dad. She’s into you—in a big
way.”

Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair,
ruffling it even more from its already messy style. “I’m aware of
her attraction, but I also know she will never act on it. And even
if she did, I wouldn’t. Your mom is everything to me.”

“What if something happened to Mom? Would
you be into this lady then?”

He shook his head and stared at me. “Maybe
if I’d met her before I met your mom. But your mom . . .
she’s it for me, Kenna. There will never be another. Only her.”

“Does Mom know how Bels feels about
you?”

“I’m sure she does, but she obviously
doesn’t find her to be a threat either.”

“Obviously, since you both agreed to let me
work here. I just don’t want to be caught in the middle of some
sordid love triangle.”

Dad laughed heartily, slipping his arm
around my shoulders. “The only love triangle happening around here
is the one you’re already caught up in yourself. Trust me when I
say nothing—and I mean nothing—will ever sway me from your mom.
Ever.”

“Even if she’s dead?”

“Even if she’s dead.”

“Good enough for me,” I replied, smiling now
that I was sure my parents relationship was still stable, not that
I’d been overly worried. “Now, when do I get to pick out my
car?”

Laughing, Dad handed me a helmet when we
reached the bike. “I was wondering how long it would take you to
ask.”

Chapter Twelve

Stirring in my sleep, hairs rose on my skin
and I suddenly felt as if I were being watched. Eyes popping open,
I blinked several times, trying to get used to the darkness of my
bedroom. Gaze darting, I saw nothing; but still couldn’t shake the
creepy feeling.

I tossed my covers off and placed my feet on
the cool, wood floor. Maybe it was just a dream and I simply needed
to wake up and get a drink or something before trying to go back to
sleep.

Leaving my room, I stepped out into the
hallway, looking both ways before stopping to stare at the open
door to the attic. Shivers flared through me. I distinctly
remembered closing the door after Seth and I had explored it, and I
was pretty sure no one had been up there since.

As if manipulated, my feet turned and moved
toward the dark staircase, my heart pounding in my chest with every
step. I should call my parents and have them come check with me;
but when I tried to stop and open my mouth, it was as if I had no
control over myself.

Treading lightly, I made my way soundlessly
up the wooden stairs, pausing at the top and looking around.

Moonlight filtered dimly into the space from
the lace-covered windows, showing the space to look exactly as it
had before, except the lid on the trunk I’d gone through was still
open. I couldn’t remember if I closed it or not, so I went to do
it.

Kneeling beside it, I brushed my hand
lovingly over the fine, beautiful fabric of the dresses near the
top. Again, I wondered to whom they might have belonged.

Skin prickling, I immediately knew I was not
alone. To my left was a soft stirring of light above my head and I
gasped, shrinking away from it.

“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” A musical
female voice, with what I thought might be an Irish lilt, filled
the air. “When I saw them, I wished I could try them on.”

I was shaking. “Who’s there?” I called out
in a harsh whisper, my mouth feeling dry.

Slowly, the light beside me began to grow
brighter as it lengthened until the most beautiful woman I’d ever
seen was standing before me—or rather, her ghost was standing
before me. Looking her over, I noted that she dissolved away into
nothingness near her feet, and she was clearly see-through. But
none of that did anything to diminish her looks.

“Who are you?” Even as I took in her white
blonde hair, porcelain features and pale full lips, I was shaking.
I’d never seen a ghost before; and to be honest, I hadn’t even
really known if they actually existed. If there was one thing being
a witch had taught me, it was to always have an open mind when it
came to all things magical or otherworldly.

“You may call me, Dee or Dee Dee,” the
apparition spoke, staring directly at me and smiling. A wave of
comfort moved through me, calming and soothing my nerves, as well
as removing my fear of this gorgeous creature. All I wanted was to
get to know her better.

“Why are you here, Dee Dee?” I asked,
curling my arms around my knees and leaning against the trunk.
Staring, I waited for her to speak.

“I . . . I live here. I have for a
very long time.”

“It’s my understanding that this house is
one hundred and fifty years old. Have you been here all that time?
Do these clothes belong to you?” I gestured to the trunks behind
me. Maybe her spirit was attached to them.

“No, they are not mine. I am from a time
much older.” Bending, she waved her hand airily over the clothing,
but it sank right through them and she sighed wistfully. “I’d love
to be able to change my apparel.”

For the first time, I paid special attention
to her clothing and noted that they did appear very old and plain.
The white dress was almost like a shift of some sort and there was
a ring of faded flowers in her hair.

“Why are you here, if this isn’t your
home?”

She turned and stared at me, shrugging. “I
am attached to something here, in the area. I’m not necessarily
imprisoned here. I choose to stay.” Glancing toward the window, she
sighed.

“But why stay here? Why not move on—go
toward the light, or whatever?” I wasn’t exactly an expert on how
death worked.

“I am . . . I am in mourning for
my lost love.”

I thought I saw a tear run down her face.
“What happened?”

She didn’t speak for several long moments.
“I wasn’t allowed to be with him. Instead, I was forced to marry a
monster, an awful man who terrorized me until I died.”

Heart hurting for her, I looked at her in a
new light. “You hardly seem old enough to be married, let alone to
have died. Do you know what happened to your lost love?”

“He wed another.” Burying her face in her
hands, she wept.

Instinctively, I reached out, wanting to
comfort her, but as soon as my hand passed through her shoulder,
she disappeared. Instantly, my fear reappeared and a wave of cold
prickled through me. Standing, I shut the trunk and rubbed my bare
arms, trying to get rid of the sensation.

“Dee Dee?” I called, looking around for her,
but saw nothing.

I shook my head, wondering if I’d imagined
it all. Tiptoeing back down the stairs, I quietly made my way
through the huge house, checking every room except my parents’.
There was no way in hell I was opening that door without an
invitation from them. The whole house seemed perfectly normal.
Pausing in the kitchen, I got a drink of water and headed back to
my room.

As I crawled into bed, I saw my phone
charging on the nightstand. Immediately, I gestured for it and it
detached from the cord and floated through the air toward me. I
smiled when I saw the text from Seth.

I missed u 2day.

Glancing at the clock, it was well after two
A.M., but I didn’t care.
Sorry. I didn’t see your text. I missed
u 2. Hope u r sleeping well.
I wasn’t expecting a reply, so I
was surprised when the phone vibrated in my hand before I could set
it down.

I’m awake.

Why? Don’t u know what time it is????