From the Ashes (Witches of The Demon Isle Book 8) (4 page)

“Um, so, that’s not all of it,” Melinda said, a bit more calmly. He let go of her hands, sat back a little, giving her space to continue. “None of it would have happened if I’d had the guts to be honest about my dream. But I was afraid of the confrontation, of having an awkward conversation. Of admitting how I really felt. So I didn’t. And even though I was the one who messed up so badly, William would have let himself die, or let the torture continue forever, if it meant keeping me alive. I really messed up, Charlie. It was entirely my fault. And there’s no pretending it wasn’t to make me feel better.”

Charlie held a weighted breath.

Melinda didn’t stop, spilling everything she’d kept secret.

Explaining the entire dream from start to finish. Every painful and uncomfortable detail. And even told him exactly what happened after she, William, and Lucas had been captured by the Feyk. Finding Emily in the cage with Lucas. She even went so far as to tell him about her bad dates, including Jerkface. Meeting Riley and finding out too late, he was a Deane.

Charlie let her explain, and didn’t interrupt. But his mind had trouble accepting and processing it all. How had he missed so much? He thought he knew his sister well. Believed she held nothing back from him. As it turned out, he might as well have been a stranger. Not a brother who’d taken over as a poor replacement for a mother and father. He didn’t understand how her mind worked at all. He’d missed so much.

And Jerkface… Melinda was not aware, but Jerkface had a name Charlie was familiar with and the pompous idiot better hope they never crossed paths.

“I always thought we were close,” he mumbled absentmindedly. He hadn’t meant to say it aloud. Or for it to come out as a bad thing, more an observation and a failure, on his part.

“I’m sorry,” she spilled tearfully. She didn’t think she could feel any lower or more ashamed. Rock bottom. This had to be it. Nothing left, all out in the open now. No more secrets. Charlie knew every detail of her life that she’d kept hidden.

She’d left out the most intimate moments of her time with William after he’d saved her life, as well as Riley at the quarry, saying only that
things had happened
, but Charlie got the idea and didn’t need to hear the rest.

There was a wide mix of feelings emoting out of Charlie, none winning over the other for precedence. Melinda wondered what he was thinking about all she’d revealed. But the more she thought about it, her brother hadn’t been entirely honest either.

“You’ve had your secrets too, Charlie,” she reminded.

Melinda was right. There were many things he’d kept secret regarding his inner werewolf, about how the alpha who turned him could have gained control of his heart, mind, and body. The alpha, being the now deceased Eva Jordan.

He hadn’t told them about Nina, his summer fling; the Guardian who sacrificed herself so he could have her protection ring.

Or that he’d been taking unconscious nighttime strolls across the Isle, waking up naked in the woods. But there wasn’t much left to tell now.

“I don’t want to know all your secrets,” Melinda clarified. “And I can’t promise to tell you everything about my life. But if it’s important to the job, or something I need help with, I will tell you.”

“I guess I thought I was more available to you than I was. Just promise me, Melinda, don’t let me push you away, or get too busy. Make me stop. Make me listen if I’m not. I didn’t realize how wrapped up in day-to-day life I got. I’m always worried about you. But I never pushed, and never asked. I guess I should have.”

“And I never told, Charlie. We’re equally at fault on this.”

“We can’t let it happen again. Not only because of being witches. You’re my sister and I care about what goes on in your life. And you
can
tell me anything. I know I’m stubborn and impatient sometimes… just, call me on it. And I’ll do my best to…” She stopped him.

“Don’t sell yourself so short. You’ve always done the best you could. You’re supposed to my big brother, not my dad.”

A brittle chuckle escaped him.

“Charlie, you’re a pass or fail kind of guy. There is no middle ground for you, and I think that’s where we all are right now. This gray, ugly, middle ground. I think it’s where I’ve been living these last four years.”

“I’m not a fan of middle ground,” he stated, agreeing in her simplified explanation of him.

“It’s not a place I want to live in anymore, either. But I’m not sure how to climb out of it, and stay out of it.” She paused, lowering her gaze. “Are you… mad at me? Disappointed?” Melinda had to ask him.

“No. Equally at fault, didn’t we agree?”

“I mean about falling for two guys I should not have fallen for, and no matter how hard I try still have feelings for, even after everything’s that’s happened.”

“Oh, that, um… a Deane and a vampire. Riley and William. A few days ago, I might not have understood, so easily. But today…” he trailed off with an eye roll.

“What do you mean?”

Charlie puffed out his cheeks, pushing out a pocket of air.

“The other night I sort of, may have, kind of, without thinking first, professed my undying love to um… Lizzy… Deane.”

Melinda choked out a cough. What the heck happened in the last week? She’d missed a lot since getting caught by the Feyk.

“Yeah… another Howard in love with a Deane. I can’t judge,” said Charlie. “And I’m in so much freaking trouble.”

“Why? Because you lied in the heat of the moment?”

“No. Because I was telling the truth. And I’ve been avoiding the subject ever since. Not that I haven’t been busy. Her too.” Lizzy was off the island right now with Lucas, searching for Riley. They’d gone to the mainland and had not yet returned.

“Wow. I never thought I’d see the day my brother fell in love.”

“Is it really that hard to believe?”

“Yes,” she answered honestly. “And with Lizzy? Huh…”

“Huh good, or huh bad?” he asked hesitantly.

“Actually, I think,
huh, kind of perfect
. I mean, if you’re looking for someone to call you on your bull…”

His breath caught an edge, he smirked, giving his head a self-admonishing shake.

This conversation had not been easy, but was long overdue. And although painful in places, not so bad in the end. So why was it always so hard to get it going? And why did it always end up being a blast of admissions all at once, rather than sharing things along the way. This passive aggressive Howard trait needed a swift kick in the pants! And Charlie was determined to do better.

“Not to change the subject,” he started a minute later. “I think we’ve been honest enough for one day. This whole thing between William and you, is this why he left the Isle?”

“He said it had nothing to do with
us
. Only for some reason he would
not
say, he had to leave.”

“You realize his sudden absence will only make him look even guiltier in the eyes of the law, right?”

“Charlie, I know whoever killed that tourist on the beach is not William. I’d bet my life on it. He was in control when he came to me. He wasn’t crazed, or high on blood.”

“I believe you,” Charlie said. “I’m just not sure how to prove his innocence to Mack. I wonder why he’d leave.”

“Maybe he needed some space for a few days? Like you said, he did suffer terribly. Unlike anything I can even imagine. I was merely an observer.”

“I’d disagree with that sentiment, Sis. You suffered. Differently, yes. But suffered nonetheless. Don’t degrade your feelings. They are valid. And yours. No one else experienced it like you did. Not even William. It’s okay to admit it, most especially to yourself.” 

“Look at you,” she breathed out. “Being all smart and stuff.”

“God. Don’t go telling anyone. Especially Lizzy. She’ll have my nose shoved in a book before I know what hit me.”

“And I’m sure you want your nose shoved in… oh I so didn’t even start to say that. Moving on…”

Charlie cleared his throat. “Yeah. Enough with sharing time. We can button it up, just a little. Siblings and love lives, not a topic I care to discuss in depth. Unless necessary,” he reminded, for her benefit. Any other idiot had the gall to treat her like Jerkface; he wanted to know about it.

“Anyway,” she changed the subject. “William…”

“Right. It’s not like him to up and leave.”

“No. But this whole thing isn’t like anything we’ve ever gone through before. I guess we’re all dealing with it the best we can. He’s a vampire with ridiculous control, but maybe it was too much, even for him.”

“My fear exactly. He is a vampire who experienced severe trauma and drank a ton of human blood. Who is missing.”

“And a body turned up, death by vampire bite…” Melinda sighed. “Freaking perfect.”

“Yeah. A second vampire on the island who
is
into drinking humans. Not a good thing. And not something I want to deal with today. Or tomorrow. Or next week.”

Melinda tossed her brother a determined gaze. “I’d like to go home. I’m fine. Really, I am.” She shook her head. “Okay, not
fine,
but I’m
okay.
And that’s as good as it’s going to get right now. I’m sad. A little confused about some things, but what’s new? And I’m tired, but I’m healing, and I think I actually will go crazy if they make me stay here. Besides, you need me. Michael’s taking care of Emily, and William’s gone…”

“I think you’re ready to go home,” Charlie told her. He’d actually never been so confident about his sister’s mental health. “But let me check with the doctor and make sure, okay?” He stood up to leave the room and stopped. “You know how much I love you, right?”

“Lots?” she returned lightheartedly.

“Yeah. Lots.”

“I love you too, Charlie. You might not be Mom or Dad, but you’re one of the two best big brothers a girl could ask for.”

He responded with a blunt chuckle and left the room wishing that were true.
Best,
was not what he was thinking at all. His sister was right about being a pass or fail kind of guy. If he didn’t get it right, he was a failure. But the middle ground was not an attractive place to hang out in…

While he checked with the doctor, Melinda lay back and stared at the ceiling.

There were no more secrets. She’d done what William had asked.

Her heart was lighter in some ways. Heavier in others.

She wondered where he was, what he was doing, if he was alone. And most of all when he would come home. She could not even think straight at the thought of maybe he had left, and would not come home. That their short goodbye was in fact, a final goodbye.

Maybe it
was
everything to do with
them,
and he’d lied to make her feel better. He’d promised no more secrets… at least revolving around them. So perhaps it really wasn’t anything to do with them. But that meant it was something else that no one knew of, and he was not willing to share. Even with her.

And William had told her to forgive Riley… what she really heard was, he’s right for you, I’m not. She hadn’t expected anything different, and yet it still hurt to hear.
God. Riley…
she wanted to forgive him. She really did. It wasn’t even his fault, all that had happened and all the terrible things he’d said, and done. The memory of his dashing smile warmed her, but turned to dread when his lips curled into a vile grin. She wished she could breathe out the memory of that and let it fly away across the ocean.

Not too long ago she’d thought he was perfect. And he could comfort her in a way no one else could. And even if that comfort might feel good right now, in a way, Melinda didn’t want it. Which had nothing at all to do with Riley and everything to do with the one thing her brain had successfully worked out during her time in the hospital.

She never wanted to be helpless like that ever again.

She did not want to depend on her brothers, or William, or Mack, or anyone, in the future.

Only herself.

Which meant picking herself up, getting back on her feet, and proving she could make it on her own.

CHAPTER 2

Lucas and Lizzy Deane were on the ferry heading home to The Demon Isle. They’d attempted to follow and track Riley’s trail after he’d fled the Isle three days prior, but the trail had gone cold, and they were forced to give up and go home. All they’d been able to figure out, he’d headed south. Which is about the only direction you can head when in the state of Maine, unless you want to end up across the border in Canada, and Riley didn’t have a passport.

All he did have was his motorcycle and few personal belongings. None of which included a phone they could use to contact him as he’d dumped it before leaving the Isle. Not that he’d answer or respond anyway. He’d run away, and frankly, even worried about him, they couldn’t blame him for doing so.

It was early morning, minutes before sunrise. Lucas and Lizzy had slept only a few short hours in the last few days, never mind the time before that during the confrontation with the Feyk. But they had to try to find Riley, even with the assumption the effort would prove useless.

Fog rolled across the bay, lazily; it was still too cool for it to lift, but the ferry departed on time, regardless. Lucas half-heartedly followed Lizzy to the upper deck. Cloud cover, drizzle, and fog did not stop Lizzy Deane from staying outdoors, rather than comfortably inside. Where anyone else in their right mind would be on a morning such as this.

She went to the damp railing, grasping it for support, and watched the big boat push off the landing with a loud toot of its horn. The sound rippled out across the bay in warning of its departure.

Lucas took a seat nearby on a long wooden bench, pulling his jacket tightly around himself. Everything was damp. The benches. His hair. His jacket. His skin. It had a way of seeping deep inside and chilling him straight through.

He was going back to a place he’d rather not be.

No matter what Lizzy claimed about him needing to embrace his witchy heritage, he hated magic and the strife it brought his family; a curse he was damned to live with, forever, seeing as Deane blood coursed through his veins.

Riley was old enough to look after himself, but he’d never been on his own before and had never gone through an ordeal similar to the one they’d just survived. Lucas feared it had changed his brother, for good. That he might not recover and be the same Riley he’d been before.

Lucas had watched his brother change enough already after their parent’s deaths. And after his magical
feeling
gift had kicked in, he’d pulled into himself a little, no longer the outgoing, having fun, always the popular guy at the party, type. Dated woman who treated him like a stop at a highway rest area… quick in, quick out, nothing worth sticking around for… until meeting Melinda Howard. Lucas recalled that first day his brother came home after spending the afternoon with her… lazily meandering into the manor, a faraway dazed grin on his face.

“What happened to you?” he’d asked Riley. “You’re keeping a low profile, right? We just landed a couple days ago and I do not want to stir up trouble.”

“Yeah. Yeah. Low profile. Not bugging anyone.”

“Then why the
I just found heaven
grin?”

Riley got red and blotchy all over, but didn’t answer.

Lucas worked it out fast. “You met a girl, didn’t you? Wow, that was fast work of it.” Lucas’ instant concern, she’d be just like the rest of his recent dates, or much worse, his last girlfriend. She’d cheated on him and played it off as no big thing. It had hurt Riley to the point that Lucas wasn’t sure his brother would even date again. And here he was, chick magnet…

“I know what you’re worried about,” Riley told him after a bit. “It’s not like that. She’s not like that. We even talked a little about past relationships. It’s so weird, I don’t know this woman at all and yet I feel like I’ve known her for years. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met before. She’s been hurt too… I think. Actually, I’d bet my life on it. I can’t imagine the twat who’d have the heart to. She’s…” he had trailed off, that dumb grin returning.

“Wow. Well… if it makes you less pissed at me for dragging you here.”

Riley had laughed a little. Then got quiet.

“What it is?” Lucas prodded, knowing there was something more.

“My a,
feeling,
brought me to her. At least, that’s how I first ran into her and officially met her. And then earlier today it hit me again and I had to take this road and wouldn’t you know it, came across her again. She was upset. She didn’t fully explain why, family troubles. My God, though, she was about the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen, even upset.”

Lucas had no reply to that. He’d always encouraged Riley to follow his gift, even though he despised the use of magic. The Demon Isle, the last place he expected to find himself. But Riley’s gift as a dating service? That was a new one.

“Just um, you know, keep things on the down low a few more days, okay. I’ve got it in my mind to visit the Howard’s and introduce myself. Before they find out through the small town grapevine that we’re here.”

“You think it will get ugly?”

“Hope not. No way to know until it’s done. But this old manor is the only place we have left out of all the properties the family used to own. We have nowhere else to go, so as far as I see it, free country. We’re not breaking any laws.”

“I don’t know as Howard Witches abide by normal government type laws, Lucas.”

“Just be careful out there. We’ll be ourselves, show them we’re not here under any false pretenses. Stay out of their business. We should all get along. So when you seeing this gal again?”

“Tomorrow. Lunch. I want to plan something special. I scoped out a private cavern on a beach, I think it’ll be perfect.”

Lucas shook his head. Amused. Happy. But skeptical as well.

This was a big move with big chances being taken.

If they were super lucky, this woman Riley had met would be good for him. She’d already perked him up more than Lucas had seen in months.

He’d take it as a good sign. Coming here was the right move.

Wow.

What an idiot he’d been thinking that!

What damage one summer could do.

What damage a few days could do.

Heck, what a curse could do.

Landing them in one of those unexpected, irreversible life-changing moments that would create a new normal. An unasked for, unwanted, change. Lucas groaned in the displeasure of it. They’d had enough new normals to last a lifetime already. There were so many in the last few years there wasn’t even enough time to adjust to one before another life altering change hit them, head on.

Lucas looked up to catch Lizzy with her eyes closed, a contented grin on her face as she soaked up the salty moisture hitting her skin like it was going out of style. It brought a sluggish smile to his lips. She was stubborn and kind of a pain in the butt, but she grabbed onto life as if it might end at any moment. He guessed she had reason to after being cursed out of her body to spend hundreds of years existing as a ghast, forced to guard Deane family secrets.

His bloodline really was cursed.

Lucky me. Lucky Riley. Lucky Lizzy,
he scoffed.

What disastrous thing would happen next?

A movement to his right snagged his attention. He flicked his head to the side, thinking he’d seen the shadow of someone running by, but there was nothing there but a foggy trail. No other people at all. It was midweek and the first early ferry of the morning, so it was nearly empty. Tourists would arrive in droves come later in the day, and week, though.

His head flicked to the other side, his eyes pinching together. He swore he’d heard footsteps slapping along the wooden deck, but again, there was no one. He shook his head and blinked hard a few times. He definitely needed sleep. Coffee at the least, if sleep wasn’t going to be an option.

He sucked in a startled inhale when a dark shape sprinted by him to the edge of the boat. A man wearing a black trench coat and oddly, bare feet. There was an intense determination on his scruffy-bearded face. Lucas’ eyes popped wide when the man threw a leg over the boat railing.

“Hey,” Lucas called out. “You’d better be careful.” He got up, intending to stop the man.

Lizzy turned around and gaped at him. “What do you mean?”

“Not you. Him,” he pointed.

“Who?” she asked.

Lucas didn’t understand. “You can’t see that guy?”

The man took another fleeting scan behind him, casting a forlorn gaze that cried a final farewell. Lucas gasped when the man threw his other leg over the side, and jumped. Lucas spun around unsure what to do. He opened his mouth to shout for help when suddenly there was a crowd screaming toward the railing calling out to the man.

Where did all these people come from?

Lucas spun around and around.

And why is everyone dressed like it’s the 1950’s? I must’ve fallen asleep.

A crewmember shouted ‘man overboard,’ and chaos took over as they searched the ocean waves for the man. Lucas darted through the crowd to the edge, but with the fog and crashing waves, and the wake left by the ferry, the man was nowhere to be seen. And not found.

“Hey. Lucas. What’s going on?” Lizzy’s voice filtered into his mind as if she were speaking from a distance.

Lucas blinked. Hard. His eyes darting side to side.

He took a few steps back.

The crowd was gone. The boat deck empty except for he and Lizzy.

“Lucas?”

He stared blankly in reply.

“Um, hello?” she snapped her fingers in front of his face.

“I… I guess I fell asleep on the bench. I thought someone tried to jump overboard.”

“Been right here and it’s only us.”

He shook his head. “I really need some sleep.”

“You and me both.”

Lucas took his seat on the bench again. What just happened?

Dozing off was the only explanation. He counted down the rest of the minutes until his head could hit a pillow.

A memory popped into Lizzy’s mind. “You know, while I was a ghast, I remember hearing tourists and locals talk about a guy who jumped off the ferry. Killed himself as it turned out. Guess he’d found out he was sick or something, but it was a popular subject for weeks. He was from the Isle and everyone knew him. Damn, there was some controversy surrounding his death but for the life of me I can’t recall what it was now.”

Lucas stared intently. “When did it happen?”

“Hm, let’s see. If I remember correctly, I think it was around the mid-1950’s.”

Lucas didn’t respond, his gaze narrowing in on the railing.

“You okay, Lucas?” Lizzy asked him. “You’re looking a bit pale.”

“Yeah. Wicked tired.” He blew off the coincidence in what she’d just said, compared to what he’d just witnessed.

“I might check in with the Howards at the hospital before I go home and crawl into bed,” Lizzy told him.

“You might want to reconsider,” Lucas pointed out, aiming a finger upward at the sky.

“Oh, right. Sun about to rise. Probably not awake yet. Although if I know Charlie, and I think I’m starting to, he probably never left his sister’s side unless he had to.”

“And we’re back on the werewolf…” Lucas teased with a dry grin. Charlie kept coming up in conversation.

Lizzy gave him a half shrug. “No reason to hide the fact I plan on marrying the wolf.”

“Is he aware of this?” returned Lucas.

“It was his idea…”

Lucas lifted a brow.

“Well, not marriage. Not yet… we have to, you know, go out on a date first.”

Lucas shook his head, amused. Charlie Howard had no idea what he was getting himself into. “Regardless of who you actually wish to see, Lizzy, I don’t think visiting hours start this early at the hospital.”

She conceded he was probably right, but cared nonetheless. Although thinking about it for a few minutes, she decided it did come across a little too eager. And easy. She did care about Melinda’s condition. And Emily’s. It wasn’t all about seeing Charlie. However, the idea of making him seek her out was suddenly much more appealing. It was equally appealing to toy with the idea of dragging him away from the hospital and back to her bed. That’d make quick business of it all. Lizzy had a sinking feeling that would not be happening anytime soon though. If she had to bet money, she’d put it all on the wolf overthinking things and regretting his proclamation.

She hadn’t really talked to Charlie since the night he’d showed up at the manor and told her he’d fallen, hard, and fast. She’d only seen him for a few minutes at the hospital while checking in on things there, and letting him know Riley had left and they were going after him.

Charlie hadn’t brought up the love subject and she’d left it alone. Something told her it wasn’t just the nature of the moment keeping him from doing so though… he was definitely overthinking things. It was obvious by the way he avoided real eye contact with her, and kept things light, almost professional and job-like. It would take some clever coaxing to make him give in, or get the man to stop worrying so damn much. She wondered if Charlie Howard was even capable of such a thing.