Something Wicked (13 page)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Police stations have unflattering lighting. That was my
first takeaway from my first visit to the Willimantic Police Department to bail
Johnny out of the clink. Danny looked completely washed out under the harsh fluorescent
lights. Not like I was too concerned about my own appearance. I spent most of
the afternoon and evening buffing floors and cleaning toilets. Not exactly
living the glamorous life.

Taking a deep breath, I walked confidently up to the desk
sergeant. "I am here to post bail?" I tried to sound confident, but
it came out as a meek question. I crumbled under the pressure of the cops.

She barely glanced up from her computer. "Who you
bailing out, honey?"

"Johnny Aberdeen," I said.

"That little whelp?" she asked with a snicker. The
mention of Johnny's name pulled her attention to me and she gave me a quick
once over. I fidgeted, straightening my sweaty polo shirt. "You need to
tell that boy to pick on someone his own size next time."

"You've seen Johnny, right?" I blurted out.
"He's like 150 pounds soaking wet."

"And that's exactly what I mean," she clucked.
"Poor thing. He lost."

I groaned, hoping an ER trip wasn't added to tonight's
schedule. "What do I need to do?"

"Five hundred dollars," she said, pulling papers
out of a file. "And you need to sign some forms." She passed said
forms over to me, and handed me a clipboard. "Take a seat over there, fill
those out, and we'll start processing."

With my butt planted in a hard, bright orange, bucket seat,
I filled out the forms while Danny handed over the money and waited for a
receipt.

A familiar shrill voice screeched down the hallway.
"What do you mean bailed out? He's a menace! We could have
died
!"

Gritting my teeth into a tense smile, I looked up as Tara
turned the corner, flipping her perfect hair when she saw me sitting in my
toilet water splattered clothes.

"What are you doing here?" she snarked at me.
"Are you the one bailing out that punk?"

Finn turned the corner, stopping just beside Tara. She
placed a perfectly manicured hand protectively on his arm.

"What are
you
doing here?" I asked Finn, my
mouth dropping in shock. I closed it quickly and stood up, smoothing out my
rumpled clothes, suddenly self-conscious in my crappy old clothes. I pulled the
scratchy polo shirt down to cover the hole above my back pocket.

"He's with me," Tara said, beaming. Then she
lowered her voice to an excited squeak. "You know, the spell worked!"

I felt like I took a sucker punch to the gut. My jello legs
were barely holding me up, and I dropped my head, keeping them from seeing the
tears welling in my eyes..

"Izzy..." Finn started, but raised my hand to stop
him.

"Are you pressing charges?" I asked, my voice icy
while my insides burned.

"He really didn't hurt—" Finn was interrupted by
Tara.

"But he
could hav
e, and that's the point. And I
broke a nail," she whined.

"Poor thing," I seethed. "So, this is who you
wanted the love potion for?" I jerked my thumb in Finn's direction.

Her mascaraed eyes opened wide, and she gave a fast shake of
her head. "Love potion? Honestly, Iz. Are you feeling okay?"

She tittered out a tiny, nervous laugh.

"No, I'm not feeling okay," I said, leveling my
eyes at Finn.

"Danny Stevenson!" Tara exclaimed as Danny came
over, finally finished paying the desk sergeant. "What are
you
doing here?"

"Helping out a friend," he smiled, handing the
receipt to me.

"A friend? You mean that little thug?"

"Any friend of Izzy's is a friend of mine."

"Aw, aren't you sweet. By the way, how
do
you
know Izzy?" Tara asked, then a look of amused recognition crossed her
face. "Oh that's right! She's your cleaning lady!"

That set her off into a peal of laughter. My fists were
balled so tight, my nails dug into my palms and my knuckles turned white.

"She's had a bit too much to drink. Again," Finn
said apologetically.

Danny cleared his throat and I wondered what, exactly, was
making him uncomfortable. Tara's laughing at him? (Well, at me, really.) Or did
he crumble under the wry amusement that she expressed at the thought of our
pairing?

A loud buzz interrupted our awkward silence. I heard the
click of an electronic lock and a heavy door open then slam shut. An officer
brought Johnny into the room. I gasped at the shiner that was just developing around
his left eye. Tara just glared.

"Thanks, Iz," he said quietly, rubbing his wrists,
probably where the handcuffs cut in. He didn't look in Finn or Tara's
direction.

I turned to leave. "Let's just get out of here,
okay?" Johnny nodded and gave me a relieved smile. and we both walked
quickly for the exit.

"Izzy!" Finn called after me. But rather than
respond, I just hastened my steps.

It wasn't until we got through the front door of the police
station that we stopped. I pulled Johnny under a light and grabbed his chin,
gently moving his head around to get a better look at his black eye.

"Hurt much?" I asked, and he just shrugged in
response. "So what was this all about?"

He looked sheepish. "You know that girl I told you
about?" He turned his head and glanced at the police station behind us.

"Wait a second," I said, my brain piecing together
the events. "Tara? She was your mysterious date to Gamers Gambit?"

He looked at the pavement. "The whole thing was a joke.
To her and her friends. Just a great big joke."

"Oh Johnny," I said, my heart breaking for him.
"I am so sorry."

"How can you even stand them, Izzy?" his voice
cracked.

"I could ask the same thing of you," I said
gently. "I mean, Tara?"

"She liked my sketches," he said sadly. "She
wanted me to draw a tattoo for her. And I did, and she loved it, and we talked
about art and stuff. I thought we were getting along great. And then..."

The fastest way to an artist's heart was to complement his
work.

"And she used you," I sighed. "I'm so
sorry." My heart was now breaking for both of us.

"Did you know she was dating your housemate?" he
asked.

"Dating? They aren't dating," I sniffed. "I
mean, I didn't think they were dating."

"Well, it looked like they were." Johnny shrugged.
"He's the one that clocked me."

"Why?" I asked. "I mean, you didn't start all
this?"

"No, I just told Tara that I'd tell you that I saw them
together, and that set him off."

"Seriously? You didn't confront her or anything?"

"Not really. I just said something about how she blew
me off and then she said something about how she had a boyfriend and kind of
clutched at your housemate. And when I said I'd let Izzy know I saw them, he
just flipped."

"He just punched you?"

"Yeah, he just punched me," he said. "Well, I
mean, I called him a few things first, but I don't think that's what set him
off."

Exhausted, I dropped to the ground and sat on the steps
leading into the station. "Sounds like he didn't want me to know about
them."

"Why? You guys have a thing going on?" Johnny
asked, plopping down beside me.

"I guess not. I mean, I don't know what I was thinking.
He has a different girl over a few times a week. Why did I think I would be any
different?" I responded, resting my head on his shoulder. "We're both
pathetic."

"Yeah, seems like it," he said with a little
laugh. "For what it's worth, Tara thought the punch was on her account,
but I don't think so. He seemed more upset when I mentioned you."

"Well, Grams always said guys liked to sew wild oats, I
guess I'm the oats."

"Maybe Tara's the oats?"

"I doubt that." My tone turned melancholy.
"Girls like her are caviar. Girls like me?"

"Oats?" he asked, this time leaning his head on
mine. "For what it's worth, oatmeal cookies are way better than fish eggs."

"You know what, Johnny? I agree." I laughed a
little and wiped at my eyes.

The door to the police station creaked open. We both turned
at the same time, and Danny walked out.

"You two okay here?" he asked, giving us a strange
look.

"We're just commiserating," I said. "What do
you think—oats or caviar?"

"Oats or caviar?" he repeated, mildly flirtatious.
"What do you think?"

"I'm going with caviar," Johnny said, clearly
unimpressed that Danny just posted his bail. "Do you mind dropping me
home? I just want a hot shower and my bed."

"Do you live on campus?" Danny asked.

"No, in Willimantic."

"He lives a few blocks away from me," I said.
"You may as well just drop me home too."

"What about your car?"

"Amanda can take me to campus in the morning," I
said. Johnny stood, giving his legs a stretch. Danny extended his hand to help
me up, but I scrambled up on my own. I ignored his pout.

As we headed across the parking lot to Danny's Land Rover, I
stifled a yawn. I was running on fumes. It was a long day, and I was working on
little sleep. I tried to push the memory of last night with Finn out of my
mind. The spell worked, and I should be relieved. The sorority business would
definitely continue. Finn was drop-dead-gorgeous, so the potions business would
boom now, all those girls wanting to snag their own Finn. Potions were one of
the most lucrative items at The Witchery. Maybe I'd bring in enough money to
quit the cleaning gig. Maybe I'd finally be able to finish school. Why wasn't I
thrilled?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"So, um...thanks," I said awkwardly, fumbling with
the door handle to Danny's Land Rover. We had just dropped Johnny off at his
apartment, so it was just Danny and me in front of my very dark house. Amanda
wasn't home and Finn was... Well, I didn't want to imagine where Finn was. And
that was part of the problem. My imagination was running wild.

"Aren't you going to invite me in?" he asked.

"For what?" I blurted out, panic edged around my
voice.

"Coffee? Tea?"

"It's late, Danny," I started, but he shook his
head.

"It's just past midnight," he scoffed. "What
kind of college student are you? Besides, we have a few things to talk
about."

"Like what?"

"The money you owe on this house, for one," he
said, nodding at the old Victorian. It looked kind of spooky in the dark.

"That is definitely not a midnight conversation,"
I insisted. "And wouldn't we be better off in a lawyers office? Or at a
bank?"

"Izzy," he laughed. I guess it was supposed to
break the tension, but I found it kind of hollow. Creepy. "This is not an
official conversation. I want to help you. Like I helped your friend
tonight."

He stretched his arm and let it hang loosely over the back
of my car seat. He ran his fingertips along my shoulder, the scratch of the cheap
polyester fabric from my shirt played in my right ear.

I turned to look directly at him, shaking his fingers off as
I moved. "I appreciate your offer to help, I really do. But I can manage.
We don't need to mix anything up."

"Mix what up?" he asked. Then his questioning
expression transformed into a knowing smile. "You mean like this?"

He leaned in to kiss me. My hand was still on the door
handle and as I leaned away from his incoming mouth, I gave it a good yank. The
door flew open and I tumbled backwards out of the car, landing hard on the
pavement.

"Well, thanks again," I said from my position on
the ground. While I tried to right myself, he got out of the car.

"No, I got it, I'm fine," I insisted but he
ignored me. His arms wrapped around me as he helped me up. Except, once I was
back on two feet, he didn't let go.

He pressed himself against me, pinning me against the car.
"I am happy to talk to my father if we can come up with an amicable
arrangement," he panted in my ear, his breath hot and stale.

"Let me go, Danny," I said, trying to remain calm
while my mind raced through ways to diffuse the situation.

"Come on, Izzy, I know you feel it, too," he said,
his arms squeezing tighter around me.

 "I promise you I do not feel that way," I
squirmed around, trying to break his grip.

"I can help you, Izzy," he said, running his nose
against my neck and up my hair, scenting me. "I can get you out of this.
We just have to be friends."

"We are friends, Danny," I said pointedly. "Remember.
And friends don't do this sort of thing to each other."

"More than friends, Izzy," he whined slightly.
"I will make it worth your while, as long as you make it worth mine."

I gritted my teeth and pushed hard against his chest. But when
his upper body gave in to my force, his lower body took over. He tilted his
pelvis into mine and I felt his erection.

Damn, this was snowballing fast. I took a deep breath, ready
to scream "fire." I hoped my neighbors gave a shit.

A pair of headlights, high beams blazing, pulled into the
driveway, blinding me. The car barely stopped when I heard its door open.
Within seconds, Danny was wrestled off me and my hero came into view. It was
Finn. In one move, he turned Danny around to face him and then leveled him with
a punch. Blood spurt from Danny's nose.

"You okay, Izzy?" Finn asked. He pulled off his
white tank top and tossed it at Danny, who was writhing on the ground.

"Yeah, I am okay," I sighed, falling into him
partly in relief and partly because shirtless Finn took my breath away. I gave
in to his strong arms as they wrapped around me. "How did you know?"
I asked.

"I didn't," he said. "Or else I would have
been here sooner."

"You were just in time," I murmured.

Danny, still crumpled at my feet, grabbed Finn's tank top
and wiped at his bloody nose. He glared at Finn. "This was none of your
business."

Finn returned the dirty look. "You were groping my
girlfriend in front of my house. I'd say that's my business."

My heart raced. His girlfriend. Did he just call me his
girlfriend? Suddenly lightheaded, I swooned a bit. Finn's strong arm gripped me
tighter to steady me.

"Girlfriend?" Danny puzzled. "What about
Tara?"

My back stiffened. Danny had a point. What about Tara?

"That's between her and me," Finn said, the gruffness
to his voice told me this wasn't simple.

Danny dragged himself to his feet, aided by the bumper of
the Land Rover. Pure hatred was written all over his face. He spit blood into
my flowerbed. "Don't be a fool, Izzy. You need me. You know you do."

"Are you threatening her?" Finn growled. His
nostrils flared a bit and I felt his body tense beside me.

"It's not a threat," Danny's voice was low.
"It's just business."

With Finn's strong arm around me for support, I found my
voice. "I don't do business with thugs," I said. "You and your
dad will get your money. Don't worry."

"Three days, Izzy," Danny barked. "You have
three days before we start the eviction process."

He chucked Finn's bloody shirt at me. Staggering to the
driver's side of the Land Rover, he got in and threw it into reverse, nearly
slamming into Finn's Jeep. Wheels spun on the pavement as he screeched out onto
Main Street.

My knees went weak, and I stumbled to the porch.
Lightheaded, I dropped down to the steps, put my head between my legs and took
deep breaths. My bravado disappeared. How the hell was I going to get 25 grand,
plus interest, in three days?

"Iz, you okay?" Finn kneeled next to me, rubbing
my back.

"No," I said, choking down a sob.

"Did he hurt you?" he asked. "Because if he
hurt you..."

"Finn, I don't have 25 grand!" I cried, my voice
rising as hysteria creeped in. "That's 25. Thousand. Dollars. Plus
interest! Who the hell has 25 grand sitting around to pay off a loan shark? I
am going to lose my house. That's what's going to happen! I am going to lose my
house! And what the hell is going on with you and Tara!"

Finn burst out laughing. "One thing at a time,
Iz."

"I don't find this funny," I snarled. "At
all!"

Finn tried to wipe the smile off his face. "You're
right. It's not funny."

It wasn't working. "Then why are you still
smirking?"

"Because you are adorable when you are mad."

"Screw you, Finn," I barked. "You owe me an
explanation."

"You're right, I do," he said quietly, sitting
beside me on the step.

"So what happened?" I asked, blinking back tears.
"I mean, I thought we had something...I guess I was just being stupid. It
was just for the spell."

"No, no way, Iz, no. Don't think that," he
pleaded. "It was something, we had something. It's just, when I went to
work, I thought it would be Mike, I really did. I mean, she hung around us a
bit, so it had to be him. I had no idea..."

"But the spell?" I asked.

"Free will, darlin'," he said, putting a tentative
hand on my thigh. "But I didn't want you to lose the business. So, yes, I
hung out with her, but it's not why you think."

I stared at his hand, partly wishing it would creep higher
up my leg. I shook away those thoughts, reminding myself that I was still pissed
"So then tell me why."

He leaned over and reached into his back pocket, and took
out a Ziploc bag.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Her hair," he said. "We're going to do a
spell, and she's going to fall in love with someone else."

"Who?" I asked.

He wiggled his fingers a bit, sending chills up my spine as
they gently brushed against my thigh. "There's a reason why I punched Johnny
in the face."

"What reason could it possibly be? The poor guy's going
to have a black eye for weeks."

Finn got up and stalked to his Jeep. He pulled out a mound
of bloody toilet paper from his glove box.

"Johnny's?" I asked. A small smile spread across
my face when he nodded.

"And I've got some of Tara's hair," he said,
holding up the Ziploc bag.  

"What about their free will?" I asked, guilt
overpowering my excitement.

"Don't give a shit," Finn said. "Tara tried
to force you into doing a spell that would take away mine. And this is exactly
what Johnny wants. I think we are justified."

"But the Craft doesn't care about justifications,"
I insisted.

"Doesn't it?" he countered. "It's about
balance, right, Iz. And if there are any magical repercussions, I will take
them. For both of us."

"Finn, you don't have to," I started, but he cut
me off.

"I won't argue this, Iz," he said. "We need
to get this spell started. And I hope you are in because I need you for
this."

"Why?"

"Because this is pure sex magic, from start to finish,
and I can't do it alone."

Although Finn looked solemn, there was a spark in his eye that
told me that this magic was like nothing we had practiced before.