Coven (8 page)

I laughed. “You’re the only one I see
beating down my door at the moment. I say let’s just take things
one date at a time and we’ll address those other things when, and
if, they come up.”

He shook his head and stared at me,
admiration written clearly on his face. “I’ve never met anyone like
you.”

“Good. I like being original.”

Laughing, he turned the car, heading away
from downtown Salem. “I’m thinking we’ll drive into Boston to eat.
We have plenty of time before you need to be home and I’m pretty
sure all the places around here will be crowded with people who
were at The Ring.”

“Do with me what you will. As long as there
is food, I’m all yours.”
Wow. That came out sounding a lot
sexier than I’d intended.

Wisely, he didn’t comment; but I did noticed
how tightly his fingers were wrapped around his vintage steering
wheel. While I wasn’t sure exactly what was going on, something was
clearly eating him.

Chapter Seven

“You know, you’re pretty nice after you’ve
been fed,” Seth said with a laugh, bumping one of his shoulders
into mine. His hands were stuffed back into his pockets as we
walked through the park, together.

“Yeah, my family teases me about it all the
time. They say I get “hangry.”

“Hangry?”

“Hungry, and angry because I’m hungry.” I
laughed. “What can I say? I like food. If I don’t get to eat on a
regular schedule, I get cranky.”

“Does your anemia cause you to be that way?
Maybe you have low blood sugar, or something, too. I hear that can
make people feel bad.”

I shrugged. “I’m pretty sure that isn’t it.
I just like food. I’m healthy as a horse.”

“How can you be sure?” he asked, staring at
me with concern.

Glancing around the park, I checked to make
sure we were alone; but I still pulled Seth closer to a thick stand
of trees and shrubbery.

“Taking me back here to seduce me?” Seth
teased, and I couldn’t help my blush.

“Well, that wasn’t my original intention.” I
smiled.

“Damn. That would’ve been awesome.” He
returned my smile, his eyes twinkling brightly in the soft glow of
the streetlights.

Staring at his lips, I bet he was right. I
had to remind myself of what I’d been about to do. “Actually, I was
going to prove that I’m healthy as a horse.”

“And how do you plan to do that?”

“By telling you I know your secret.”

A guarded expression crossed his features.
“What secret?”

“The same one I have,” I replied. Raising my
hand, I cupped it in front of me and commanded the flame inside me
to appear there. “I’m a witch.”

Seth took a step backward, staring at me.
“How . . .?” He glanced around warily and I distinguished
the flame, not needing it now that my point had been made. “How’d
you know that I am?”

Oh, shoot. This part was going to be more
complicated. “You want to go back and sit in your car, where we can
talk more privately?”

“That’s probably wise.” Offering me his arm,
without removing his hands from his pockets, I slipped mine near
his elbow and allowed him to guide me back toward the vehicle. “I
have to say, this is something I didn’t expect.”

“Me, neither. My dad moved us here, hoping
we would blend in with the history and culture in Salem. We knew
there were many different sects of witches, here, and felt like we
wouldn’t stick out so much.”

“There are several witch families, meaning
those who are like us, living in the area.”

“Really? Anyone else I know?”

Seth grunted. “Maybe two or three.”

“Really? Who?”

“Let’s get in the car first.”

I had to admit, I was more than excited to
find out there were others like us here. It made me feel more
. . . normal, somehow, and normal was rare in my
life.

Seth led me to the car and opened it. Once I
was seated, he closed the door and joined me on the other side.
“Tell me how you knew about me.” He pushed, again.

“Okay. But I need you to keep an open mind
and hear me out, all the way, before you jump to any conclusions.
All right?”

“I’ll do my best, if you do the same for
me.”

“Deal,” I replied, wiping my suddenly sweaty
hands on my jeans. “Here goes.” I stared into his eyes. “My dad
. . . well, he’s a demon. But he’s not a bad one.” I
continued in a rush before he could speak. “He was turned against
his will and he’s been fighting the conversion ever since. He hates
it. He’s been working with a doctor friend of his and they’ve even
invented a synthetic blood so he doesn’t have to drink from a live
source.”

Surprisingly, Seth didn’t seem too shocked.
“Well, I think it’s safe to say that your dad just became even more
frightening to any guy who wants to date you. The fact that he
could literally tear my head off and drink my blood is slightly
intimidating.”

Laughter escaped me. I couldn’t help it.
“I’m pretty sure he has no desire to do anything like that
. . . ever.”

“Oh, I bet he’d reconsider if I brought you
home . . . how’d he put it . . .‘different from
how I found you’.”

“That was a very special kind of
threat—pertaining specifically to . . .” I trailed off,
suddenly feeling self-conscious.

“Oh, I think I’m pretty sure I know exactly
what he’s referring to. So he knows, for a fact, that you’re still
a virgin?”

“Only because I’ve never been around anyone
who could change that status.”

“Got it. So he’s training his sights in on
me?”

“Most definitely . . . at least he
will if you have plans to stick around.” I could practically see
the wheels turning in his head. I wished I could hear what he was
thinking.

Seth glanced at me. “I was planning to stick
around—at least for longer than this. I just wasn’t aware that if
you and I became an item that sex with you might get me
killed.”

“Is that a deal breaker for you then?”

“I don’t know.” I could see the truth of his
statement in his eyes and was surprised it wounded me as deeply as
it did.

“So, I’m guessing you’re not a virgin then,
if no sex is a deal breaker for you. It’s just as well that I found
out now, huh? My dad has always warned me about guys who are simply
after one thing.” I knew I was lashing out at him, but I couldn’t
seem to help myself. Obviously, I’d misjudged his character.

“Kenna, you’ve misunderstood what I
meant.”

“Then please, enlighten me.”

“In answer to the first part of your
question . . . no, I’m not a virgin. I haven’t been in
quite a while. I’ve had several steady girlfriends I’ve slept with,
and even a few one night stands on occasion, since I was
fourteen.”

Wow. He’d been sexually active for four
years already.
I really didn’t want to hear about all his
conquests.

“The reason I say I don’t know if this is a
deal breaker for me is because I’m not used to holding myself back
when I have a girlfriend. I’m not going to lie. I like you a lot. I
find you extremely attractive and I’d love to keep dating you and
see where this would go.” He grinned slightly. “Plus, I’ve never
dated another witch before. It could be fun. I just don’t want to
die doing it.”

“So, let’s stick to our previous plan
. . . we can date. Let’s take it slow and see where it
goes. Besides, after tonight, you may decide that you want nothing
to do with me.”

“I highly doubt that. In fact, since I met
you, all I seem able to think about is you.”

“That’s because you’ve only known me for one
day. I’m still the new shiny plaything. It’ll wear off,” I
teased.

Smiling softly, he shook his head; and
slowly reaching out, he gently brushed my cheek with his thumb. “I
don’t think this kind of attraction will wear off that easily.”

Leaning into his embrace, I savored his
touch, closing my eyes.

“Go out with me. Tomorrow.” It wasn’t really
a question, more of a command.

I opened my eyes. “My parents would probably
die if I went out on a date two nights in a row. I think they’d
rather visit with you and get to know you better before they’ll
agree to let me go out with you, again. Plus, they might like to
hear about the other witches in the area. How about you come to my
house for dinner tomorrow night, instead? Then they can get to know
you better and it will help my dad ease up on you a bit.”

Dropping his hand away from me, Seth sighed.
“I’d love to come to dinner, but I honestly advise against telling
your dad about any other witches, besides me, for the moment, at
least.”

“Why not?”

“Because, the other witches I said you might
know are the Blackstone’s. Jett is a warlock, but his parents are
demon witches. And in spite of the popular business they run, they
aren’t exactly the best sort of people.”

Immediately, my mind snapped straight to
Jett’s aura and suddenly all the nasty, muddy colors I’d seen there
made perfect sense. “They drink from him, don’t they?” I asked,
sorrow washing through me. Seth nodded.

“They also use his uncontaminated blood for
the rituals in their coven.”

“Coven?” I squeaked the word out. “There is
a full demonic coven in Salem?”

Seth slowly nodded. “I only know about it
because they’ve been trying to recruit me.”

Well, shit. That explained the funky
flecks on Seth’s aura, too.
“And you want to join?”

He shrugged. “I’ve considered it. Jett makes
it sound so . . . enticing.”

“So he wants to be converted?”

“Desperately. He’s been begging his parents
for years, but they refuse because they need him in his current
state. Is it true what he says? That demons are much more powerful
than their counterparts?”

“My dad is the most powerful warlock I’ve
ever heard of. Mom says he was extremely powerful before his
conversion, but even more so after. So yeah . . . it’s
true.”

“I can’t even imagine what that would be
like.”

“Then don’t imagine it. It’s dangerous. Both
of my parents have had terrible, terrible things happen to them
because of it. Things you couldn’t believe.” I was feeling
desperate. “Promise you’ll get to know my dad, and even talk to him
about being a demon, before you decide to do anything.”

“You aren’t going to tell him?”

I shook my head. “No. You trusted me with a
secret. I will keep it as long as I don’t believe you’re a danger
to yourself.”

“So you wouldn’t want to be a demon?”

“Never!” I replied vehemently. “Even though
my dad has learned control, it has come at a very great price. I’d
never risk my family that way.”

Silence filled the car as Seth stared out
the window for several long moments.

“Are you part of a coven?” he finally
asked.

“No. My parents were initially part of my
family’s coven in my mom’s hometown. When everything went down with
my dad, he left the coven and joined with a demon one.”

“Really?” Seth sounded surprised and I
nodded.

“My mom said it was awful. The coven
brainwashed him and tried to get him to kill her on several
occasions so they could steal this special power called the
Awakening, which had been bound to the cells of my parents during
an earlier ritual. As long as both of my parents were alive, no one
else could use that power.”

“And your dad actually wanted to kill your
mom?”

I sighed. “It was much more complicated than
that. My dad actually died during his demonic conversion—killed by
his grandmother during a ritual in which she used his blood to try
and steal the Awakening for herself. But it didn’t work because my
mom and her coven killed the demonic coven before the ritual was
finished. The Awakening split—half of it going into my dad, and the
other half of it went into my mom. Because the Awakening
strengthens power and gives longevity, it brought my dad back to
life; but it restored and rebuilt all the demonic cells inside him
as it did so, completing his conversion in the process. So, when he
rose again, he was a demon, with no memory of my mom.”

“That’s crazy! I can’t even imagine what
that’s been like for her.”

“It wasn’t easy. He eventually regained his
memories and joined her in the fight against other demons. There
were several close calls for them, and they lost many of their
coven and loved ones in the process.”

“So, it’s pretty safe to say that even
though your dad is demonic, he hates all demons.”

“That is the complete and total truth. If he
found out about Jett’s family, he’d move us out of here so fast we
wouldn’t know what hit us.”

“I think you’re right.”

“I’d seriously be a prisoner in a cabin in
the woods for the rest of my life. My dad is terrified of his
family being exposed to any more of those creatures.”

“Jett’s family keeps things pretty low key.
I know that most people around here have no clue there even
is
a demonic coven in Salem. They’re pretty refined and in
control.”

I gave a wry laugh. “According to my mom,
those are the worst kind. The ones who can actually think through
the bloodlust—and figure out how to rule it—are usually the most
cunning and dangerous.”

“That bastard,” Seth said suddenly, catching
me completely off guard.

“What do you mean?”

“Jett. He knows, doesn’t he? That son of a
bitch already knows.” Seth dragged a hand through his sandy blond
hair before slamming his fist against the steering wheel.

“Sorry. I’m not following.”

“Don’t you get it? He knows what you are.
Somehow he already knows. I wonder if his parents scented you when
I took you there for lunch? Or if there is some way he can tell
himself? I knew there was a reason he threw the fight. He’s trying
to pull you closer.”

Honestly, this revelation frightened me.
Knowing that a demonic coven might have their sights set on me made
my heart flutter like a turkey in a pen on Thanksgiving Day. Would
they try to come after me? Would they try to convince me to join
them like they were doing to Seth? Or would they leave me alone if
they knew my dad was like them?