The Witch's Vampire (New Adult Paranormal Romance) (Mystery Springs Series) (6 page)

Sophie didn’t recognize the female with long silver hair, steely gray eyes, and pale skin named Anastacia, or Stacia as she preferred to be called. There was a slight blue tint to her skin that Sophie learned was common among Jinn, also known as genies. She fought the urge to ask where Stacia’s lamp was or if she lived in a golden vessel waiting for a master to rub the surface and ask for three wishes. It seemed highly implausible that the legend was true since there didn’t seem to be anyone there with her. Stacia wore black slacks that fit her curvy, form perfect. Her hair hung loose and fell to just above her waist. It was thin and wispy, nothing like the image of Barbara Eden from ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ which had been her go-to expectation of what genie’s were supposed to look like.

A strong-looking, tall man with dangerous eyes and sandy brown, sun-kissed hair named Luke was a pack alpha and represented his wolves. There was something primal about his stare. His eyes reminded her of a wolf, and she couldn’t help but wonder how close the animal was to the surface with the full moon only a week away. He offered her a stiff nod as he was introduced to her, but kept his distance across the room assuming a similar pose to Logan’s.

Possibly the most beautiful woman Sophie had ever seen with sparkling blonde hair, intense violet eyes, and golden skin represented the Fairy or Fae population. Her face was symmetrical and heart shaped. The beauty she possessed seemed false somehow, forced, perhaps with magic to appear perfect. It was slightly unnerving to look at her. Her name was Bella.

A tall girl with wavy chocolate brown hair and blue-green eyes the color of the sea hidden behind fifties-styled glasses shook Sophie’s hand, and almost broke it in the process. She was introduced as Harmony, and she represented the Amazons. The woman was tall and all muscle. She reminded Sophie of the female athletes at school only she wasn’t dressed like an athlete. She wore white slacks, and a white and black top with a sequined heart on the front.

After that the introductions got a little dangerous. A brindle colored mastiff barreled out of the kitchen barking happily. He bolted toward Sophie, and as he jumped into the air he transformed into a tri-colored Pomeranian that looked like one she knew as a child. It licked her face and wagged its pom-pom tail with excitement. The pup’s tongue tickled and made Sophie giggle as Gio snatched the tiny fur ball out of her arms and said, “Sophie meet Eric who represents the skin walkers otherwise known as shape-shifters. He put the Pomeranian on the floor and within seconds the black, white, and golden furred animal turned into a red headed man. A fully naked man! She only saw a glimpse of his back side as Gio covered the man up with her grandmother’s colorful afghan from the couch.

“Sophie and I have met before. When she was younger I was her babysitter a few times.” The familiar man with peach skin and countless freckles smiled – freckles Sophie used to count as a child. He was right. She did know Eric, and gave him a bear hug before he went off to change into some clothes. His entrance left a sour look on Giovanni’s face, but Sophie couldn’t understand why.

It was then that a woman with skin the color of a mocha latte coffee, black hair, dark eyes and curves that went on for days introduced herself with a slight Spanish lilt as AnnaBella or AB and advised her she represented the elves. If the look on her face was any indication, she didn’t want to be there, and her obvious impatience made Sophie nervous.

Giovanni ended the introductions with a grand bow, “and we’ve already met. I sit on the council for the vampires in my father’s place.”

Sophie couldn’t help but be taken aback by his formal bow. She took a moment to take the man in. He wore black stone-washed jeans that hugged his legs and waist but looked comfortable. A dark t-shirt that emphasized his lean muscles, and a black leather jacket that screamed sophistication and sex all at once. His stormy eyes locked onto hers and she felt her world shift in a way that she never experienced before. It was like he was a beacon on a dark stormy night and she was lost at sea until this moment when she really connected with him, really looked into those eyes. His soul called to her.
Do vampires have souls?
She wondered. If they did, his was calling to hers, and they were connected. In that moment, she knew things would be different for her. How was the only question left.

He took a spot next to Sophie. Chelsea and her father stood on the other side and Sophie suddenly felt boxed in between unwanted and unneeded protection. Giovanni's nearness made her heart race and pulse quicken.
How the hell did he have such an effect on her?
Unsure how to feel about the desire she was feeling for a man she never met before tonight she slid closer to Chelsea to put some distance between them. She may be pissed at Chelsea, but she didn’t trust herself with him.

Giovanni's lips twitched upward as she slid even further away, but not far enough. He’d never let her slip too far away again. This time his soft leather jacket caressed the rough cotton fabric of her green hoodie. It was the first time she became aware of how under dressed she was.

Giovanni was going to enjoy this chase. He was a predator by nature, a creature who took what he wanted, and in this moment he wanted Sophie. The more she ran, the more he would pursue. She had to know her actions were stimulating his interest. He leaned toward her an inch further so he could feel the heat of her body through her clothes. She was so warm; so full of life and so innocence.

“Why are we here?” Harmony asked the question on everyone's mind.

“My sister, she was mortally wounded by a vampire,” Christopher shot a leveled glance at Giovanni who didn’t flinch, only nodded his approval for Christopher to go on.

“If she isn’t healed by magical means she’ll die and be transformed into one of those…creatures.” He spit the last word like he'd taken a bite of something bitter.

It amazed Sophie how Giovanni took the insults in stride. She was more hot tempered and found herself getting upset for him. She looked at Gio and he offered a quick smile and almost undetectable wink which he shared with her alone. Aside from the skipped beat her heart took at the wink, she felt a moment of comfort. If he wasn’t worried, she shouldn’t be, but that moment went away and was replaced with a nagging feeling that something wasn't right. Something about all of this was unsettling.

“Unfortunately, our healer died. Sophie will inherit her mother’s gift, but she has no idea how to use it.” Mariah spoke softly, sadly. "She was raised as a human."

It was the first time Sophie realized what was really being placed on her head. She wasn’t just another witch, she was 
the 
witch doctor. Now she understood why her mother insisted she live as human as possible because when she died her life would be forever changed. She also began to understand why her mother insisted she stop caring for other people and start living for herself.

“Can we call someone else?” Christopher looked hopeless and sad. There was more to this story, Sophie could feel it. She was positive she saw guilt slide behind his blue eyes. But she didn’t say anything.

“I can put a call out to other witch covens in nearby towns to see if they can spare their own healer, but you must understand, there aren’t many left.” Mariah gave Sophie a stern look. “I told your mother you should be trained from the moment you exhibited the ability to heal, but she defied that instruction and now we’re left to suffer while you learn to harness your gift.”

A vision of Sophie when she was a child popped into her mind. 
She found a wounded bird in the backyard and picked it up. Within minutes tears fell from her six year old eyes as she felt the pain the bird was in. One of those tears fell on the bird’s head and slowly he started feeling better. She focused all the love she had to give on the bird and a golden glow surrounded her hands and the bird one minute, and the next the bird was flying away. Her mother ran to her and held the startled young Sophie in her arms. Telling her it would be okay and in time she would teach her to use the gift, but for now she needed to be a little girl, to grow up and live a normal life. 
Tears stung adult Sophie’s eyes as the memory faded. Her mother cast a spell on her in that moment. A spell that locked her powers and memories up tight.

“Mariah, this is not the …” Sophie’s father started, but Sophie interrupted him.

“My mother also said to never speak ill of the dead. You apparently disagree on that front too.” She snapped at Mariah. 
She also told you to mind your elders, 
Sophie's conscious chastised her quietly in her mind making her feel guilty for her quick reaction and hot temper.

There were startled silences and stunned faces around the room. Giovanni looked down at her with respect in his grey eyes and pulled her hip protectively against his own. The touch of his hand around the back side of her waist made her heart jump a few beats. Tingles prickled her skin and sent a shiver up her spine. She wanted to curl herself up in his arms and show her appreciation for his support, but there were more pressing matters at hand.

Gio was shocked at the electricity that shot through him from their first touch. He hadn’t meant to pull her close, not in front of the council and her father, but he couldn’t help himself. Her honey scent was intoxicating. Her body was inviting and he could imagine all the wonderful things he would do to cause pleasure to escape those mischievous lips; lips that were all too happy to make snappy statements. She had a feisty spirit. He liked that. So many people bowed down to formality around him, but she hadn’t, not in the least. And when she spoke her mind to her elder it took bravery, very few argued with Mariah.

“I remember a time when I healed a bird in the backyard. It was instinct that took hold and made it possible. I was never taught anything.” She reluctantly pulled away from Giovanni. His closeness was making her weak, allowing her to rely on his strength when she needed her own at the moment. If she’d stayed much longer she would’ve melted into his arms and forgotten the issue at hand. She turned to Christopher with a newfound resolve, courage she never knew she had, and belief in something she didn’t want to believe in. It would be so easy to walk away, but that wasn’t the kind of person she was. Despite her mother’s pleas she was a caring person who only wanted to help people, and she couldn’t change that core instinct in her. “I know your sister isn’t a bird and I may not be able to help at all, but while we’re waiting for another healer to come, perhaps I can try?”

“I’m confused. I thought you said you didn’t have any powers?” Christopher eyed her suspiciously-the man was short on trust. Sophie didn’t blame him. She wasn’t sure she could do anything either but at least she could try.

“The coven unlocked her powers today. She won’t be at full strength until the new moon but she should begin to get her powers back little by little until then.” Chelsea offered in Sophie's defense.

“Bring your sister here so Chelsea and Mariah can help. If I know my daughter she'll do everything within her power to help your sister.” Sophie’s father invited. His voice was warm, but his eyes held a darkness to them that Sophie had never seen before. The slightest touch of distrust.

“And while the witches work on saving your sister you can explain what happened. There’s still the matter of who is responsible for the attack on your sister.” Giovanni pointed out, a little hurt by Sophie's withdrawal, but he also understood. If he had half the impact on her as she had on him she'd be unable to concentrate on anything but the desire rising between them. Even now, when he needed to focus on the issue at hand, the half truths the Nephilim hunter was giving, all he could do was imagine how Sophie tasted. His lips on hers, her hands on him. Her body…

“As well as why there are nephilim in Mystery Springs without an introduction to the council.” Luke snarled, arms crossed over his chest which made his biceps seem even thicker than before. He was a formidable sight. A man that seemed larger than life and stronger than those muscle men on television. There was also a wildness about him. Sophie briefly wondered what kind of power the werewolf yielded.

Christopher nodded as he headed toward the door. Harmony stepped in his path. “You’ll stay. Call someone to bring her.”

“There’s no one.”

“Then I’ll accompany you.” She advised politely.

“As will I.” Logan added as he started to head toward the door. “We’ll take my car.” And with that the three of them left.

Sophie was pulled to the kitchen to discuss the plan by her father, Mariah, and Chelsea.

Anastacia, Luke, Bella, Eric, AnnaBella and Giovanni were more concerned with the appearance of a new supernatural group in Mystery Springs and they decided to talk strategy.