A Wicked Good Witches Paranormal Romance Books 1-7 (Wicked Good Witches Seasons) (34 page)

“Oh, hey,” Riley called out. She spun around. “Don't forget, you promised me you’d eat something.”

Eat? How the hell was she supposed to eat with all this untapped energy surging though her? But she nodded absentmindedly, watching her motorcycle man drive out of sight. Out of her life until tonight.

She wished time would fly right through the afternoon and run directly into eight o’clock. Worked up level was acceding the boiling point, heading toward Mount Vesuvius!

How is it that she’d had more action in the last twenty-four hours than all combined in her twenty-one and a half years, and yet felt more unsatisfied and needy than ever?

She shook herself back into the moment.

Job to do.

Bloodsuckers.

Emily.

Mermaids
.

Where is Charlie?

Need to help Mack.

And Michael...

Melinda scurried down the sidewalk and stormed up the stairs onto Mack's cottage porch. So out of her mind she did not see William Wakefield’s statuesque frame filling the open door, awaiting her arrival.

Her eyes met his, and she froze.

His emerald greens stared back with an intensity she understood instantly.

Her breath caught in her lungs, unable to escape.

Blood sank to her feet, dragging her heart with it.

Everything cracked inside of her.

If William had possessed a living heart, she was positive it had just died, shriveled, and turned to dust. 

Her arms slid around her center, nausea nearly doubling her over.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.
Why hadn’t she been more careful and had Riley stop further away? Hell, she should have gone home and taken a freaking shower. William’s sense of smell was just as keen as his hearing. He smelled another man on her.

Guilty. That was the only look she could muster.

Oh my God! He heard everything Riley just said to me.

Everything I just said…
she inhaled, unable to get enough air. Nothing wanted to function properly. She bit her lip, hard, to keep from crumbling into pieces.

They stood there, neither saying a word for a good long time.

Why hadn’t she just told him this morning? All this could have been avoided if she’d just been daring enough to tell him she’d met someone.

Her and her avoidance of awkward conversations needed to come to an end!

But they are so hard…

And this isn’t much, much harder?
And far more cruel…
her inner voice chastised harshly.

This was entirely her fault, for not being open and honest with William. Why did she always need to avoid confrontation and run away from anything serious? The outcome was never a better outcome. So why did she keep doing it? And now she was setting herself up to do the same thing to Riley.

Her eyes cried out a hundred emotions, none of which made up for the anguish currently etched in William’s tight gaze. The emerald green she loved so much looked dampened. Darkened. Displeased.

With her? With himself? She had no idea.

He’d told her nothing could ever happen between them.

No, that wasn’t what he said.
I cannot...
He said he could not. He never said he did not want to.
Why was it only now, that she heard what he did not say?

She never thought for a moment that William actually returned any of her feelings. Yes, he had vanished after kissing her hand. But she still didn’t think…
and therein lies your problem! You don’t frigging think Melinda Howard!

How dumb could she be?

She’d shattered him. The unbreakable vampire, crushed by her complete lack of sight.

Ha! Funny,
her messed up brain shouted at her sardonically.
What good are my dreams if they can’t help me with any of this?
Using her dreams as an excuse was beyond pathetic.

William’s face went blank, his usual emotionless expression returning. He stepped aside, motioning for her to come in. “We are making plans to combat the leeches,” he explained, his voice low, but even.

“Okay,” she stammered, stepping through. She had to look away from him, unable to face him. Her throat felt heavy and burdened by the effort of speaking. “William...” she had no clue what to say. Anything she said would come out wrong.

He said nothing. Melinda forced herself to look at him. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. His silence killed her. Sliced her down the middle.

She heard Mack talking on her phone at the back of the house, in the kitchen. She hustled to join her there. The sheriff waved and motioned for Melinda to help herself to anything she needed while she chatted away.

“Ya heard me right!” Mack bellowed into the phone. “Attackin’ sea lions! Like it or not, we need to clear the beaches on the northern shores. Better safe than sorry, don't ya think?”

Melinda lifted her eyebrow in disbelief as Mack worked her magic.
Attacking sea lions... this is what we’ve been reduced to for excuses now?
She spotted an open box of donuts sitting on the counter. She’d promised Riley she would eat something, but she wasn’t sure she could. A pit had opened, and she didn’t think sugar would fill it, or fix it.

Mack continued her tirade over the phone and Melinda couldn’t help but grin, albeit a tight grin, while listening to her smooth talking whoever she was speaking with, into the idea of attacking sea lions on the beaches of The Demon Isle.

Melinda caught William’s gaze. His look was kind, understanding. An unspoken apology for his reaction. A bit of the tension released, but the pit remained. She shoved a bite of donut into her mouth to keep herself from crying.

He might be okay now, but she’d hurt him. Which meant only one thing: he really did have feelings for her, even if he did not, could not, or would not, admit it.

She shoved another bite of donut into her mouth. It tasted terrible. Like sawdust. She couldn’t eat another bite.
That’s a first! Can’t finish a donut. You really are messed up.

She hopped up onto the kitchen counter and poured a coffee, sipping the steamy contents of her warmed mug. It helped the ache, just a little.

Mack hung up her house phone, her cell phone going off a second later. “Some days!” She rolled her eyes, answering, “Hello!” There was silence as Mack listened to the other line. “Odd lookin’ sea lion, you say... attackin’ eh. Okay, secure the area, I'll be there in a jiff!”

William must have heard what was reported, as he dashed away, already heading to the scene. Melinda felt a twinge of relief that he was gone. Did he need some space as much as she did? She needed time to gather herself.

Mack disconnected her call.

“Those dang bloodsuckers have left the water. Just attacked a fisherman. He wasn't seriously hurt thank God. And the only good thing I can say is at least those things resemble sea lions. Attack of the sea lions! Ha! Never thought I'd see the day I had to use that one.”

Melinda laughed, but it came out in an uneasy shake. She didn't know how Mack kept her sense of humor living in this crazy town.

The sheriff narrowed her eyes. “You okay, Sweetie?”

Melinda wasn’t sure how to answer that question. She didn’t want to talk about it as she was still trying to process it all. And if she did spill, she’d just ball her eyes out.

“I’m fine, Mack. Just feeling a little…” She let out a frustrated groan. “Guy problems.” 

“Guys. I see. Well…” Mack rubbed her chin in thought. “I’m afraid relationships are not my cup of tea. Hence my lack thereof, and the reason I avoid tea and drink a lot of coffee.”

Melinda bit her lip and let out a nervous laugh. “It’s okay, Mack. It’s just… no matter what I do, I’m going to hurt someone I care about.” She hoped if that someone was William, her actions wouldn’t put a permanent wedge between them. She needed William in her life.

The sheriff smirked. “One of those type situations. I feel for ya, Melinda. I really do.”

Melinda shrugged half-heartedly, sliding down off the counter, changing the subject. “I'm wagering William has already arrived at the scene. We should probably get going.”

“Don't know what the Isle would do without that man! I wish I had an army of vampires just like him.”

“If we had an army of Williams, we might actually get to take vacations, off the Isle,” Melinda jested.

“Imagine that... vacations,” Mack’s mind wandered, as if debating how to actually find herself an army of Williams. 

“Or, we could just get our kicks killing some bloodsuckers.” Melinda’s gaze turned humorously lethal. 

Mack laughed and motioned for them to head to her police vehicle.

She turned on the siren and they raced to the scene of the attack.

CHAPTER 8

Charlie followed the two merladies through his yard, into the woods and onto a trail, which came out just down the street from his home. He laughed in secret. If he had realized where they were taking him, he would have just brought them through the front yard and to the street.

The girls were easily sidetracked as they sauntered through the town. More than once, Charlie had to stop the girls from accosting female tourists wearing shiny jewelry that the girls wanted to look at, and touch. They also turned many heads, as it wasn't often that blue-haired, barefooted ladies walked down the streets, even on The Demon Isle.

“Remember, you are taking me to save your sister,” Charlie chided lightheartedly, after apologizing to a third woman the merladies had accosted. She’d worn exuberantly colored, oversized earrings that they would have surely pulled out of the woman's ears if Charlie had not intervened.

“Yes. Sister,” one said.

“Sorry,” spoke the other.

“Yes. Sorry. So many shiny things.”

“This way, Charlie who is a Howard.”

One of the merladies took hold of his hand, pulling him forward.

“Not far now.” 

They hurried along, taking a side street, which came out on the backside of several shops. They scurried in between garbage cans and parked cars, hopping onto a trail that shortly came out to the shore. The path veered suddenly, now following alongside the water's edge. Soon, the merladies led Charlie off the pathway and onto a small stony beach.

“Not far. Not far,” one of the sisters repeated. The path was narrow, forcing them to walk single file. The sisters were cautious not to touch the salty water, to keep their human feet from turning into flippers.

Charlie stepped cautiously, following as they worked their way around a jagged, rocky corner. He was surprised when they rounded the corner that there was a cave entrance.

“This is where we change,” one of them revealed. She spoke as if this had been a long held secret.

“When we come to land,” the other finished. 

It’s the perfect hiding spot for a mermaid to dry out
, Charlie thought.

They had to duck to enter, but once inside, there was plenty of space to stand up straight. Once in, Charlie saw the trapped sister instantly.

“Sisters,” she cried out.

“We are here.”

“Yes, we found Howard.”

“You really got yourself into quite a mess,” Charlie noted as he took a closer look.

“Yes. Mess. Hurts.”

“Don't worry. I'm going to get you out of here.” He flashed a bright smile and winked, which seemed to calm the trapped merlady.

Charlie knelt down trying to figure out where to begin. The merlady was completely ensnared by an old fishing net, which kept her unable to walk or swim. Charlie took out a pocketknife and painstakingly cut piece after piece of the net, slowly freeing her. After about twenty minutes, he finally cut the last line and she was free.

The merlady leaned forward, planting a grateful kiss on Charlie’s lips. It only lasted a moment, but when she pulled away, he had to rub his lips together to stave off a tinge of numbness.

“Thank you. Thought I was dead.”

“You’re welcome.” Charlie stood up, assisting the merlady to her feet. She joined her sisters.

“Would have died,” one of them spoke.

“Yes, you save sister,” the third sang, her voice suddenly seductive. 

Before Charlie had time to react, the sisters were side by side, approaching him with a single fluid movement, in perfect sync with each other. Almost in slow motion.

No. It was like they were underwater.

Were they? No. He was still in the cave. Right?

The merladies’ blue strands swayed as they walked. It had a mesmerizing effect.

A sense of calm crept over Charlie. His breathing slowed, his eyelids getting heavier, harder to keep open. Everything started to blur.

Hands. Running all over his body. He blinked, hard.
Is that my shirt on the ground?

Moist lips slid across his chest. It left behind a scorching sting. It didn’t hurt. Only invited. Enticed. He wanted more. A groan filled his throat. Hands swept down his chest, sinking lower. Lower.

There was a lot less room in his shorts.

The three sisters started to sing serenely, encircling Charlie.

The newly freed sister grabbed hold of his hand and tugged him gently toward the back of the cave. Toward the pool they used when arriving on land to dry off.

“Return with us to the sea,” one of them suggested.

“Yes, come home with us.”

Lips kissed and caressed his skin leaving a stinging trail, but he could not feel where and it felt like everywhere.

“Yes,” he sighed. “I’ll come with you.” He closed his eyes, complete bliss pulsing through his body.

“First, take off ring,” the newly freed one soothingly coaxed.

“It’s the only way.”

“To join us.”

Charlie looked at his finger. What did he need the ring for when he could have these god-like creatures instead? Charlie rubbed the ring. He twisted it around his finger.  

The mermaids urged him closer to the pool at the back of the cave.

One of the mermaids waited near the pool, her hips moving in a seductive dance. Her hair fanning out around her, shifting in an invisible breeze.

“Do we please you, Charlie?”

He stepped closer. “Gods fucking almighty. Yes.”

“Then come.”

“Follow.”

“Take off ring.”

“Play with us Charlie.”

“Yes. I…” With each step he took, Charlie's body became heavier; his feet heaving across the cave floor like cement blocks dragging underneath his legs.

A surge of adrenaline raced through his blood and Charlie’s body shook as if he’d been doused in ice water. He rubbed his eyes and stepped back, with each step his body becoming lighter, his mind becoming clear. He stopped when he hit the cave wall.

“The ring...”

It was saving him.

He gazed back up at the merladies. “Why are you doing this?”

They approached him, fanned out, blocking his escape. Charlie was pinned against the wall, with nowhere to go.

How did they know about his ring? Moreover, how did they know that
he
had to be the one to take it off? He’d told no one except Michael. And clearly, they were trying to coax him to take it off.

“Why?” He needed to find out, rage rising. 

Before he commanded them to answer him, the two sisters that had sought him out at his home, fell to the ground, crying out in pain.

“Lost,” one whimpered.

“Sister gone,” the other spoke, as if her heart was breaking. She reached out to the second, grasping her hand. The second pulled the other in, embracing her. Each in sudden inexplicable tears. 

The third merlady turned to the two sniveling on the ground, her lips forming into a hissing scowl. Her eyes narrowed and her teeth elongated, coming to pointy ends.

They did not notice.

“Wait!” The first one’s her eyes widened in delight. “New sister.”

“Yes, new sister,” the second spoke, her voice suddenly changing from sad to happy.

“Confused.”

“Unwilling.”

“Scared.”

“Will grow to love.” The first smiled at the second like they’d been happy all along and nothing terrible had happened.

“Will you two moronic creatures shut up!” the third one shouted. “The job is not finished!”

“But sister lost, and new sister scared.” She pouted, tears forming. 

“Must go to her,” the second explained.

“I. Do. Not. Care,” the third mocked viscously, “about your fucking sister.” She shot daggers of silent warning at the two, who stood cowering next to each other.

“Go get that ring off Charlie Howard's finger,” the irate one spit out.

It really was about the ring. He had hoped that somehow he was wrong.

He came close to apologizing to his wolf. It had been paranoid for a good reason. The mermaids
were
tricking him, and he’d played right into their hands.

No. he’d played right into those mesmerizing hips… and his inability to turn down helping damsels in distress. He’d have to be more careful in the future though, as it seemed the supernatural community was now using this to their advantage.

His thoughts spun in bewilderment, but he needed to escape before they somehow mesmerized him into taking off the ring.

He stared them down. No one moved. None of them seemed sure of what move to make next. Charlie did not know exactly what the ring would, and would not allow, to happen, but he didn’t want to chance they could get it off his finger.

One
day. Not even a full day since he’d put on the ring. And already something was trying to steal it. How did they even find out he had the ring, never mind that he had to voluntarily remove it from his own finger?

None of this made a lick of sense!

He hadn’t even told Melinda, Mack or William yet. Only Michael…

The mermaids approached, although the two taking orders from the mean one did not seem as eager to obey.

There were only two ways to escape the cave, the way he had come in, currently blocked by the merladies, or by diving into the pool of water, which could lead anywhere. Including to other mermaids or underwater creatures, lying in wait.

##

Emily had dried off, standing on her human legs once again. She stood on the beach soaking in the rays of sun and letting the ocean mist fill her nostrils. Mr. Jordan had lent her a pair of his daughter’s shorts, seeing as she’d destroyed hers when she’d transformed into a mermaid. As the minutes ticked by, desires expanded in her heart. Desires that were getting harder to ignore by the second. Desires that set her heart aflutter with anticipation.

“Emily,” shouted Michael. “Why don't you come inside? Mr. Jordan is working on a cure.” When she did not answer, he hopped off the pier and strode up to her. “Emily,” he called out again.

“Oh, Michael. I didn't hear you. Sorry.”

“You doing okay?”

She gazed over the vast ocean. “I want to go out there, Michael. I can hear all of them. My sisters... there's so many. I never knew there were so many.”

“Yeah, that's not a good idea, Em. You need to stay on dry land.”

“I know. Sorry. I don't want to be a mermaid. I know I don't...” her voice trailed off as if uncertain. 

“God, I'm so sorry. If I hadn't talked you into coming with me today...”

“It's not your fault Michael. It’s just, the call of the ocean is like nothing I have ever experienced before. It's like... it's like I can feel the water, without being in it. Like it's my home. Where I am supposed to be. It’s wrong here. This sand is dry. Scratchy. Hot.”

“You're going to have to fight it,” Michael told her firmly, grasping her shoulders. “I will find a way to fix this.” He did not like hearing her speech sound like that of a mermaid.

“Couldn't I just go, for a few hours?” she begged, taking a step toward the water.

“No!” he spoke harshly.

Her face turned sad as if she had been reprimanded. “You're mad,” she pouted.

“Oh, no. No. I'm not mad. I just want
my
Emily back. If you go into the water, I'm afraid you'll never come back to me. Need I remind you of the dangers lurking out there right now? We still have no idea how many bloodsuckers there are.”

“But they need me, Michael. I feel my sisters, right now. They are in pain. They are in pain over the sister they lost, and sad, for me. Because they can hear my true voice. I don't want to be one of them.” Emily closed her eyes for a moment. “I don't want to be one of them,” she repeated as if reminding herself of who she really was. Her frightened eyes found Michael's. “It's happening so fast! I don't have much time, do I?”

It was like the two sides of Emily were fighting to see which would win.

There was nothing Michael could say to make it better. He just needed to find a way to fix it.

He watched her expression turn from sad concern, to curious, and then angry.

“Emily, what's wrong?”

She said nothing for a moment, but looked as though she was listening to something. “Charlie?” she questioned softly. “Why are you trying to hurt Charlie?” She spoke as if someone could hear her.

“What about Charlie?” asked Michael. He still had not successfully reached his brother.

Emily gasped. “Oh no!” Her head snapped to the ocean and before Michael could stop her, she ran straight into the water, diving. Clothing shattered, floating on the water’s surface.

He shouted after her, but to no avail. He stood just inches into the crashing waves, searching for any sign of her. For a moment, he thought his heart had stopped beating. She was gone. Just like that. Gone.