The Scarlett Legacy (Woodland Creek) (3 page)

THE TREES SEEMED
to sway to Adelaide’s stride as they entered the forest that surrounded Scarlett Hall. Sometimes she reminded Evie of an ethereal creature from a fairy tale; tall, beautiful, and lithe.

The world couldn’t touch her.

When Adelaide took off her shoes, Evie peered at her, curiosity on her face.

“Take off your shoes.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. Leave them by that tree, beside mine.”

Her mother sauntered through the grass barefoot, her hips swaying with each delicate footstep.

Evie stood there, staring with her mouth parted, the lines in her forehead creasing.

What is going on here?

Evie took her boots off, and now her feet squelched along wet leaves, mud, and tiny twigs.

Evie kept her hands in her cardigan’s pockets. The further they went into the forest, the more she knew she wouldn’t make it to her first class at all.

“Don’t you feel it, Evie?”

Evie looked at Adelaide’s back. She thought a moment, wondering if she felt anything different. Truth was, she did.

She sucked in a breath of the cool sweet air, trying to make sense of the sensations that washed over her as they went deeper and deeper into the forest. They went so deep that the canopy of leaves above started to block out most of the sun. It almost felt like the evening even though it was only eight o’clock in the morning.

“I guess so,” Evie said, frowning at whatever strange sensation she felt. A strong urge to stop overcame her. She wanted to rest her head on the tall green grass, close her eyes, and forget about the world.

She didn’t like it.

“Good. Come take my hand.”

Adelaide turned around and held out her hands for Evie. Evie pulled in a long breath, filling her lungs, and stepped closer so that she could hold Adelaide’s hands.

Her hands were cold, so cold that Evie pulled away in shock.

“What the hell, mom? Your hands feel like ice.”

Adelaide snatched her hands back to her. “Your hands aren’t any warmer, Evie. Stop being a baby and hold on for just a moment.”

Frowning, Evie did as she was told. Soon her face paled as their hands began to heat, making her entire body warm up.

“See?”

She looked up to see Adelaide smiling.

“Yeah,” she said. “You have too many tricks up your sleeve.”

“Perhaps,” Adelaide said. “But you do too.”

Evie tensed, looking around the clearing as if she’d see someone hiding in the bushes, watching them.

“Don’t you?”

“What are you talking about? You know I can read minds and identify those with magic.”

“That’s what I wanted to bring you out here for, sweetie. You might have more than that inside of you.”

Evie tried to take her hands free from her mother’s. Her glasses started to fog. Adelaide wouldn’t let her go.

“Stop trying to resist. You always shied away from your powers. I want you to embrace them.”

“I’m not trying to resist. I just want to clear my glasses.”

Adelaide sighed. She closed her eyes and blew on Evie’s lenses, freeing them of the fog with one breath.

“Better?”

Evie gave a single nod. “What did you bring me out here for? It’s creeping me out.”

“Like I said. I wanted to tell you a secret, one that I kept from you for far too long, but might soon come in handy.”

A whistling sound came from somewhere far off, like an owner calling for their dog. Evie’s face paled.

“I’m scared. Let’s go home.”

Adelaide held steady, but smoothed the tops of Evie’s hands with her fingers.

“It’s okay, sweetie. Mommy will always protect you.”

Evie stilled. She looked into her mother’s eyes and saw the truth in them. Adelaide might get on her nerves at time, but she loved her and would do anything to keep her safe.

“I know,” Evie said, ignoring the sounds she started to hear around them. She kept her eyes focused on her mother, which kept her calm. “I’m listening.”

“Good,” Adelaide said.

A brief moment of silence passed before Adelaide seemed to gain the courage needed to tell Evie why they were there.

“I am not a wizard. I never was.”

Evie shook her head. “What?”

She must have heard her wrong. She’d seen her mother do things that no one else could do unless they had magic.

Adelaide’s brows furrowed. “I only let your father believe that I was because I loved him…and because he hates shifters.”

Evie’s eyes widened. Memories of her mother’s powers flooded her mind. She always thought they were odd, but each wizard was unique in their own way. If she wasn’t a wizard, how could she move things with her mind?

“Don’t tell me you’re a shifter.”

“Yes. I am a shifter and have always been.”

“But,” Evie closed her eyes, thinking. “I’ve seen you move things with your mind before. You’ve used magic. What kind of shifter does that?”

Adelaide smiled. “All good questions,” she said. Then she looked down.

Evie’s eyes followed and she let out a loud yelp when she saw that the ground was far below them, and that they hovered in the air.

She opened her mouth in awe, seeing birds whiz by.

That explains the whistling sound. How did I miss floating in the air?

“I won’t let you fall,” Adelaide said and let Evie’s hands go.

Evie let out another yelp, expecting to fall to her death. Her heart pounded in her chest. Instead of falling, she hovered there in the air with her mother.

“What is happening?” Evie covered her mouth and looked around in awe.

Adelaide nodded, chuckling. “I was right. You may have your father’s looks, but you have an equal amount of my power inside of you.”

“Your power?”

“You’ve inherited both sides.”

Evie held her arms out as a breeze flew around her. Her hair whipped around her face.

“What do you mean?” Evie tried to keep her breathing calm. The air was so crisp and light. Soon she began enjoying being up there.

It felt like home.

Adelaide twirled in the air, the skirt of her black dress seemingly dancing in sync with her long blonde hair. She flashed a smile at Evie.

“I always knew you were more like me than you let on.”

“How?” Evie’s body floated along the breeze, and before she knew it she gave a hesitant twirl.

Glorious.

“Because you’re a Gryphon,” Adelaide replied. “Just like mommy.”

Evie’s face paled. She remembered her dream. Could that be why she saw the Gryphon last night?

Tilting her head, Evie peered at her mother through squinted eyes.

“Why are you telling me this now?”

Adelaide folded her arms across her chest. She looked down, shoulders slumping.

She looked vulnerable. Evie didn’t like it. She resisted repeating the question.

When her mother turned her back on her, Evie wrung her hands in worry.

“Evie,” she said. “Things are going to get worse here before they get better. I told you this because I want you to be able to defend yourself.”

“Against what? The Prince family is gone.”

“In case something happens to Wes or I.”

“What would happen to you?”

Adelaide turned back to her, her eyes hooded with guilt. “Your brother and I have done some things that could affect you.”

Evie frowned. “Like what?”

She wanted to go back to land. The conversation made her uncomfortable, and yet the sky seemed to hold her steady. It seemed as though a new secret came out each day.

“Let’s just say that we eliminated those that pose a threat to our family.”

Swallowing, Evie covered her mouth with a cold hand. Her words came out breathlessly. “What did you do?”

Adelaide shrugged. “We did what we did to protect you.”

Evie watched in awe as her mother flew down without another word.

Evie hovered in the air, welcoming the sun’s rays warming her neck. Still, chill in her blood remained.

What has my family done?

THE PICTURE WAS
beautifully drawn. The Gryphon was a majestic creature, revered in mythology from cultures all over the world.

Learning that they were real thrilled Evie.

Now it made sense why this creature kept appearing in her dreams.

Her stomach was unsettled. What Adelaide had revealed to her wouldn’t leave the forefront of her mind. Even though her family was in the middle of so much drama, this new revelation took precedence. All she wanted to do was go outside and find a secluded area where she could fly free once again.

Never reveal your ability.

Never fly around humans.

Always stash clothes where you can find them.

Adelaide had told her as much as she could in the short amount of time they had. So much information about her shifter side, and nothing about what she and Wes had done to protect her.

I’ll find out…in my own way.

She was good at that.

Father hated shifters, and so it made sense why her mother lied.

But now Evie knew why she felt the way she did. That empty hole was now filled. She could fly, in her human form or as a Gryphon.

Adelaide had tried to get her to shift, but Evie wasn’t quite ready. She’d rather enjoy the benefits without having to be a creature of myths and legends.

Lazy was what Adelaide had called her when she refused to shift.

Practical was what Evie had called herself in defense.

Why transform when I can do everything as a human?

Apparently she was more powerful in her animal form, but she was afraid to feel what that was like.

Evie actually looked forward to going home to learn more about her shifter side.

“That’s Edward Scarlett’s daughter.”

“The one that lives in the huge manor in the countryside?”

“The haunted one?”

“Yeah.”

Really?

“Yeah. Her family is in the mob. I’d stay away from her unless you want to end up dead.”

Evie cringed at hearing herself being talked about. Even if they did whisper, she could hear the two girls at the table next to her quite clearly. Sure they were right about her family being organized crime…but why did people think her house was haunted?

Her father had hosted some of the most elaborate parties in Scarlett Hall. It was a beautiful Victorian house, kept up with no expense spared. No matter if he ran an underground gambling ring, he made sure Evie was kept far from those things, and never let his business life spill into their home.

She shook her head and continued reading.

“They say her father was into some pretty bad stuff. That’s why he was killed.”

Evie’s face heated. She shot a glare at the girl that kept whispering about her family. Evie considered turning around and knocking them out of their chairs. Then she thought of how much trouble she’d be in if her secret got out.

She tensed.

Only if I used magic.

No one would learn of her secret if she walked over there and slapped them both. That was a purely human thing to do, right?

Still, it was a terrible idea.

Evie decided to tune them out and calmed herself by closing her eyes for a moment.

I’ll be free in a few more months
, she reminded herself.

She took a deep breath and ignored them. Her finger traced the outline of the creature that had an eagle’s head and a lion’s body.

“What are you up to?”

Evie slammed the book closed. She looked up to see Parker standing next to her in a navy button-up shirt and jeans.

“Jeez,” she said taking off her glasses and cleaning the lens on the hem of her purple pleated skirt. “You scared the crap out of me.”

His eyes read the title of the book. “Mythological creatures. Doesn’t sound like anything that’s going to help you with your trigonometry exam.”

“Lower your voice,” Evie said, standing from her seat at one of the tables in the back of the library.

She glanced at the girls that had been talking about her, seeing them stare at Parker. She tucked the book into her satchel and took his hand into hers. She pulled him along as they left the library.

Outside the sun tried to break free from the dark clouds that continued to gather. Evie already smelled the sweet aroma of rain.

They stood on the white stone steps looking out to the lush green quad that connected the buildings of Hastings-Albrecht University. The beauty of autumn was all around them. Trees were covered with orange leaves, the ground was littered with them, and Halloween decorations were set all over the campus.

There was no doubt that the town was excited about the annual Halloween party the town held. Evie began to wonder if she even wanted to attend with all of the media attention and rumors circulating Woodland Creek.

Evie clutched her notebook to her chest and held down her skirt as a gust of wind swept through the campus.

“Are you okay? You’re acting weird.”

Evie put her notebook in her bag and hugged Parker, burying her face in his chest. She breathed in the scent of his fresh-smelling deodorant.

“I’m fine. My nightmares are back.”

He rubbed her back and rested his chin on the top of her head. “I’m sorry, baby. Tell me everything.”

She shook her head and pulled away. “They don’t really make any sense. I just keep dreaming about my really disturbing stuff.”

Parker held her hand. “You sure you don’t want to talk about it?”

She bit her lip. There was so much she wanted to reveal about being a wizard, but making humans aware of their presence was forbidden.

Sighing, Evie started down the steps and to the stone walkway. “I just wish the whole trial with Hugh Prince will just finish up already.”

Parker followed her. “I know. At least he’s locked up for the time being. He can’t hurt anyone else.”

The whole Scarlett versus Prince family feud had gone on long enough. Her family had seen its share of loss, but the Prince family had lost even more. Both of Hugh’s sons had died in a car crash just a few days after her father’s death.

Now one patriarch was dead and the other was in jail for his murder. As if her family hadn’t suffered enough rumors of being cursed, now there was a murder and a scandal.

She was glad the public didn’t know how deep their family secrets went.

They walked together, in silence, along one of the paths. At least Parker held her hand, providing a small measure of comfort.

Evie kept her eyes down to avoid making contact with any of the students staring at her. They made a path for her, some silent, some whispering, as she walked by. She should have been used to the whispers, but they still bothered her. She wanted to run and be free of their judging eyes.

“Don’t you have another class to go to?”

Evie wanted to be alone. She needed to sort out her thoughts in silence before something bad happened—something she couldn’t control.

Things never seemed to go well when Evie couldn’t control her emotions, so she tried to keep her breathing even. Everything that had confused her while growing up all made sense.

She was both a wizard and a shifter.

Insanity,
she thought, shaking her head.
And I can’t tell a soul.

“I do. But it can wait,” Parker said. “I want to make sure you’re okay first.”

The sting of tears burned her eyes. She couldn’t let him see them. Who was she kidding? She couldn’t hide anything from Parker.

He pulled her around and held her face in his hands. “Baby, talk to me.”

Evie shook her head. “You wouldn’t understand, Parker. Your family is perfect. Mine is splattered all over the newspaper.”

Parker wiped her tears away.

“I do understand,” he said. “No one should have to deal with losing someone they love the way you did. I hate to say it, but with all that’s going on, you need a break from your family.”

Nodding, Evie wrapped her arms around his waist. “You’re right.”

“I’m glad you agree. Why don’t you bring enough clothes with you to my place? Stay with me for a while.” He grinned, anticipating her next question. “You don’t have to make a decision about moving in just yet.”

Evie couldn’t help the smile that came to her lips.

“Really?”

He kissed her. “Of course. I’m going to do my best to help you take your mind off all the madness going on.”

A buzzing sound caught Evie’s attention.

“That sounds like just what I need,” she said to Parker as she fished her cell phone out of her bag’s front pocket.

She checked her text messages.

Her face paled at what she read and turned away from Parker so that he wouldn’t see the message.

“Good,” he said. “I better get to my next class. You be strong for me baby. One more night in Scarlett Hall and I’ll be there to help you take your mind off things. Try not to obsess over the trial, okay?”

Evie slid her phone back in her bag, her eyes staring off into nothing. She swallowed and nodded slowly.

“Yes,” she said. “Sure.”

Parker left and Evie sped away from the quad. She needed to be alone.

Forget the trial, he says.

Take your mind off things, he says.

Evie’s fingers tingled as she swiftly left campus.

The words in her text message from her brother, Wes said it all.

Hugh Prince is dead
.

If she didn’t get away before the news was out to the public, she’d be bombarded with questions, odd looks, or worse.

Evie could barely breathe when she reached her car.

Hugh Prince is dead.

She couldn’t stop repeating those four words in her head.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

Wes wasn’t kidding. They really did it.

The man that killed their father was dead.

Now we are even,
she thought.

Right?