A Wicked Good Witches Paranormal Romance Books 1-7 (Wicked Good Witches Seasons) (52 page)

William had been around for such a long time. And she’d be alive for a mere blip of the vampire’s long life. He’d admitted having been in love a few times, once with a human woman. She wondered how many women William had been with. Being over four hundred years old, she imagined quite a few.

A terrible realization hit her, one she’d thought of before, but the savage truth of it sliced into her the full reality of what it meant to be William Wakefield.

He never aged.

He would never grow old.

He watched people be born, grow, and die.

Friends coming into his life and then leaving.

A repetitive circle of life and death.

Except for him.

He had no one around him that remembered his previous lives. The lives he lived before she and her siblings were born into the world. Or her parent’s generations. Or their grandparents or great grandparents. William had known them all. Loved them all. Cared for them all.

All he got in return was to suffer through age after age, watching his loved ones be born, live, and inevitably be stripped from his life. And then he’d go through the process all over again.

This realization saddened her. Sickened her.

Melinda understood loneliness. She’d experienced it these last few years.

But William was beyond simple loneliness. There wasn’t a word strong enough to describe the hell he lived.

Her heart skipped a few beats, stuttering.

One day, she and her brothers would leave him too.

How was it she was just understanding this reality?

Death would find her. And Michael. And Charlie.

But not William. Never William.

Someone shouted her name.

Her eyes popped wide and she looked up, remembering she was with Lucas and Riley.

“You going to help us out at some point?” asked Lucas. He nodded toward the debris piling up behind them as he and Riley hacked away, clearing out the entrance to the cave.

She let out an uneven breath, her eyes moist. 

Riley noticed and stepped over. “What’s going on in that head of yours? You look a little… lost.”

She just closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m fine,” she lied, irritation and sadness heavy on her tongue.

“Yeah, see, everyone loves how perceptive I am, until they give me that look you just gave me.” Riley frowned and went back to work.

Great. Now he’s pissed at me again. God this day needs to end!

Melinda looked at the brush pile, wishing she could magic herself some work gloves.
Why did I offer to come with these two?
Annoyed, she started clearing out the brush, removing it from the cave and piling it just outside.

They were creating a sizeable stack, and she was surprised that the brothers cut through the overgrowth so rapidly.

“There,” said Lucas after another thirty minutes. “I think that should about do it.” He put his hands on his hips, catching his breath as Riley brought out the last pile of brush.

“What?” Riley smirked at Melinda, upon seeing her crack a smile.

She couldn’t help it. “You should see yourselves.”

“All this hard physical labor makes me too much man for you, doesn’t it?” Riley flexed his muscles in an attempt to win her over. His thin tee shirt fitted him to perfection.

“Yes, Riley, your man muscles are totally hot,” she jested. They really were. She really didn’t want them to be. Not right now at least.

He shrugged. It was so much more than a shrug.

How was it every time he looked at her, shook his head or just shrugged, such simple acts normally, that these movements spoke too many things to her.

He didn’t need to say it in words.

This sucks. I’m sorry. God, I wish things were different… that we weren’t living in our own Romeo and Juliet nightmare.

Melinda bent over and picked up the flashlight. “There’s a stream just over here,” she motioned. “If you want to clean up. I know I do.” She splayed her dirty fingers, with an ick ready to roll off her tongue.

Melinda sat on her knees and rinsed her hands off in the cool stream.

She heard Riley and Lucas doing the same, except they were making much larger splashes as they washed their hands, arms, and faces.

They sat at the edge for a moment, letting the cool night air dry them. Waiting for the others to arrive and for the ceremony to begin.

“Melinda,” said Lucas curiously. “If you don’t mind. What exactly is the deal with this Soul Hunter?”

She could tell by his tone that he was genuinely interested.

“All I really know, is it’s the thing that caused my mother’s death, and that it’s responsible for my father’s disappearance, and… he might be dead, or alive, but we have no way to find out.”

“What happened exactly? To your parents?” Riley questioned softly.

She wondered how much she should tell but decided, why lie. She supposed they deserved the truth, as much as she knew anyway. And it wasn’t like they weren’t already aware of the existence of magic, or the Isle’s power source.

“My parents were on the job, here on the Isle. My dad was the witch in the family, the Howard. My mom was aware of what he was, what the Howard’s were, before they married. Anyway, they were out one night together working when they crossed paths with the Soul Hunter. They gave chase but they couldn’t catch it. My mother fell, broke a potion bottle she’d been carrying. It was a potion not fit for human consumption and since she didn’t have any witch blood in her veins… when it broke she swallowed some of it.” It was the first time telling this story to anyone. She didn’t think about it too deeply, she didn’t want to have a breakdown. Not here. Not right now.

“She swallowed it and she died,” guessed Lucas.

“Yes. Our father was then captured by the Soul Hunter. Until earlier today we had no idea where the Hunter had gone. We assumed it was long gone from the Isle.”

“So you really know nothing about this Hunter?” asked Riley.

“No. We’ve never dealt with one before. All we’ve been able to piece together is that it literally engulfed our father’s body and took him away.”

“At least when our parents died we had closure,” said Riley. “Not that it was any easier dealing with it,” he added for his brother’s benefit.

“It’s never easy to lose someone,” said Lucas. “Especially when it’s not expected and hits you out of the blue. But even more so when you don’t get closure. Whatever the outcome, I hope you and your family get yours. And I hope you get your father back.”  

“Thank you,” Melinda muttered.

She picked up the flashlight no longer in the mood to talk about her parents, and got up, heading back to the cave entrance. She heard the Deane brothers following.

“Shall we see what awaits us inside?” she suggested.

Headlights crossing the bumpy field stopped them from entering.

CHAPTER 15

“I think that’s Emily’s car,” said Melinda. It was, and the car came to a stop just at the edge of the field. “She’s probably going to need some help.”

“Just so happens we know a couple of strapping young lads,” touted Riley, tossing her a wink as he headed towards Emily. Lucas and Melinda followed.

“Hi guys,” Emily called out. She opened the back door of her car.

The foursome gawked silently at Lizzy’s perfectly preserved body.

“Really?” a voice barraged from behind them. “You’re going to stand there and stare?” They turned around to see Lizzy, the ghast, in her long black veils floating overhead.

“Sorry,” apologized Melinda. “It’s just kind of weird.”

“Compared to what? You see weird all the time.”

“Yes, but this is a new level of weird.”

“That’s your opinion,” sneered Lizzy. “Okay, boys! Body, into the cave. Chop, chop! And gently, please,” she bid them, her ghastly frame leading the way. “I’d like to have zero bruises on my body once I’m back in it.”

They followed and obeyed Lizzy’s instructions. Melinda turned to follow them and stopped when Emily blocked her way. She said nothing at first but then came forward, giving Melinda a hug. All it did was make her want to cry.

Emily let go and they started after the brothers.

Lizzy barked orders not too far ahead.

“Are you okay?” Emily asked Melinda as they walked.

Melinda just moaned and sniffled her reply.

“That good, huh.”

“Oh, Emily. I don’t know what to do.”

“At least I understand what happened now. Why didn’t you just tell everyone? It was an honest mistake. Not that Riley’s a mistake. Oh, you know what I mean.”

Melinda stopped and faced her friend. “You of all people are asking me why? You can imagine my brother’s reactions. And look at what William did when he came across Riley with me. And then he wouldn’t even look at me after. He must hate me.”

“His reaction was a little freaky. He was so grrrrr…” Emily made a pathetic excuse for a frightening face.

Melinda bit her lip holding back a low chuckle. Emily grinned.

“I don’t think it’s possible for William to hate you, Melinda. And as for the not looking at you thing… he was probably afraid to because he didn’t want you to see
him.
” Emily wasn’t sure she was being clear, and was nervous to bring up the subject for fear it might just complicate the situation even more.

“You mean because I might see that he loves me.” Her voice was tight and low.

Emily’s voice caught for a moment. “I think he might.”

Melinda couldn’t help it. Her heart fluttered madly at the thought it might really be true.

“Sorry. I know it doesn’t make any of this easier. Or change anything. But look, you didn’t set out to date a Deane on purpose. It just happened. No one can hate you for that. And no one is going to love you any less because it happened.”

Melinda wanted to believe that. And if William was hiding his face from her because he didn’t want to give away how he felt, or that she had crushed him yet again… she sighed miserably. “I don’t think my brothers are going to go that easy on me.”

“You should give them a chance. They worry about you a lot you know. And they love you like crazy. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen two brothers more devoted.”

Melinda nodded, forcing back a grin.

“And the whole William forbidden love thing set aside, don’t give up on Riley just yet either.” Emily tossed her a smirk. “You do still like him, don’t you?”

“Yes,” groaned Melinda. “Still totally crazy about him...”

“Geesh! Don’t sound so depressed about it. Just take things slow. See what happens. Just not as slow as your brother did with me though.” Emily frowned at the thought.

Melinda laughed.

“You’ve always been a good judge of character, Melinda, and my gut says everything’s going to work out in the end.”

Me? A good judge of character? That doesn’t sound like me at all,
her thoughts rambled, thinking back to jerkwad. Her terrible date from hell, and the asshat she’d given her virginity to.
Ugh, if I could go back in time…

Melinda turned and hugged Emily. “Thank you. You’re always so nice to me.”

“Are you kidding? It’s like having a sister and a dear friend all in one. Who could ask for more than that?”

“Right now, I could ask for a new life, or at the very least a few do-overs. A head screwed on better than my own and… some light.” They had reached the entrance to the cave, and it was pitch dark inside. They heard movement not too far in, the brothers had already entered, but they could not see them.

“How far in do we have to go?” wondered Emily, shuddering.

“I wish I could make those light orbs like Charlie. Oh, hey wait, look!” Melinda pointed to the side of the cave. “Torches. Those I can do.” She snapped her fingers and the torch sparked to life. A few more feet in, another torch exploded into flames. Followed by another. 

“Much better,” agreed Emily as they stepped into the cave. It was tall enough they didn’t need to duck, and not far in they caught the dim light of the Deane’s flashlight. As Melinda approached, she snapped her fingers again and more torches lit up, exposing the circular cavern they’d just stepped into. In the middle of the cavern was a flattened stone, the length and width appropriate for the size of a human body. Iron rings stuck out of each corner.

“Creepy much?” Melinda fought the icy tingle surging up her spine.

“Yeah, what exactly did they do in here?”

“Got a strong feeling we don’t want to know.”

Lucas and Riley placed Lizzy’s body on the flattened stone, per her orders.

“Do we have to tie you down?” Lucas was disgusted that he had to ask. 

“No.”

“Thank God.” Lucas let out an anxious, but relieved, breath.

Lizzy stared at the stone covered with her body. Her ghastly form shuddered. “I was tied down once. Right here. This is where I first became a ghast. Here on this very stone.”

They pictured her strapped to those iron rings, helpless.

Melinda’s heart melted just a little towards the ghast. So did everyone’s.

It had to have been terrible. To feel so helpless. She couldn’t imagine anything more frightening than to be chained up, unable to prevent some terrible thing you knew was coming.

“Yes. Well, enough of the somber shit.” Lizzy stole her gaze away from her body. “Like I said, I got over it a long time ago.” Her tone indicated the exact opposite.

Melinda and Emily joined Lucas and Riley.

“The torches are a nice touch,” Lucas conceded to Melinda.

“Yeah, this old flashlight wasn’t cutting it,” agreed Riley.

“Sometimes magic is a good thing.” She shrugged. Her surroundings freaked her out too much to fight the argument of using magic, versus not. Still, she thought it was a good thing that the Deane brothers chose not to use magic, even in a circumstance when she thought it was warranted. “This place kind of gives me the creeps. I still don’t imagine I want to know what’s been done in here.”

“You don’t,” confirmed Lizzy. “Back in my time, this cavern was used to practice good magic. By good witches. Many years after I became a ghast and this place was long abandoned, the Deanes claimed it for themselves.”

“Let me guess,” said Riley. “They performed dark magic in here.”

“Bingo.”

“It’s sort of terrifying,” whispered Emily, a cold shiver splintering down her spine.

A few feet in front of the body sized stone was a cobwebbed covered cauldron surrounded by burnt candle nubs blanketed in a thick layer of dust. Torches lined the walls. But worst of all was the rust-colored stain leaking out from underneath Lizzy’s body, dripping down over the sides. Was it human or animal blood? Either was an equally horrifying and disgusting thought.

A swoosh of air suddenly swept into the cavern. William appeared, seemingly from nowhere. Melinda’s face brightened upon seeing him, she couldn’t stop it, even with the thought that he might be angry with her. Riley’s frown soured into a scowl.

The vampire’s face was hard to read, as usual. And then his emerald greens drowned her baby blues in what she was certain was a look only meant for her. That somehow she was the only one that could see it. It told her everything was fine, that not all was lost. That she had nothing to fear. Nothing to be sorry for.

More than a look, it was almost like she could hear him saying it. A whisper planted somewhere deep in her mind. She shivered and blinked. He wasn’t looking at her at all, but talking with Lucas.

How bizarre.
She shook it off.

“Were you able to find what you were looking for in our library?” Lucas was asking.

“Possibly,” returned William. “I only hope there is time to implement the plan if it’s deemed worthy.”

Melinda was about to ask William to expand, her heart feeling lighter, when she heard footsteps scuffing across the cave floor.

“That will be the others,” noted William. “I passed them on my way in.”

Charlie, Michael and Eva Jordan slipped into the cavern, baskets filled with ceremony provisions in tow.

“Everyone’s here. Good.” Charlie set down his basket. 

William started. “Before we begin the ceremony, there’s something we should discuss.”

“You found something about the Soul Hunter?” hoped Charlie, looking around the cavern. His gaze also paused when they came into view of the blood-covered stone with Lizzy’s body. “
Jesus.
What the hell happened in this place?”

“Death… Murder…” Michael shivered out the words. “I can… feel it. Like it’s seeping out of the walls.” Emily approached him and grabbed his hand, warmth spreading up his arm. She was the light to his darkness.

He’d never walked into a room, or cave, or anyplace before, and had death scream out at him like it did in this room. He would not want to witness the devastation that had taken place here. It wasn’t like touching a body or performing a death reading. But death and terror reeked heavily on every surface. Thickening the air making it hard to breathe.

“You okay?” Emily asked him.

He nodded, sending her a tight grin. “Am now.”

She gripped tighter, telling him she wouldn’t let go. “So much for early night and sneaking into my bed.”

“I’m not giving up on that just yet.” He nipped at her nose, letting the cold grip of death slip away.

“The Soul Hunter?” Charlie reminded William.

“I didn’t discover how to capture the Hunter, or how to free your father. However, I believe I have found a way to keep it prisoner here on the Isle. To keep it from escaping.”

“I guess that will have to do for now,” said Charlie.

“If we can keep it from escaping the Isle, at least we still have a chance,” Michael stated.

“What’s your plan?” asked Melinda.

“Something similar to what we did to capture your mother’s spirit, actually,” explained William. “We are going to create a force field of sorts. It won’t last long, but if my calculations are correct, and they are, of course, it will last long enough to keep the doors closed. And keep the Soul Hunter from escaping… until the doors can be sealed permanently.”

“How long will it take to get ready?” Charlie wanted to know.

William took out a handful of crystals. “I need you three,” he aimed at the Howard siblings, “to cast a few spells, and then I’ll set up these crystals at each door myself. As for how long, it should be relatively fast. I will need Lisbeth’s assistance.” He eyed the ghast.

“You may have it. There’s still much to be done before the ceremony can begin, and all this waiting around is starting to make me anxious.”

“Ghasts can get anxious?” Emily frowned.

“My human emotions are still tied to my soul. I can feel any emotion just as if I were living.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” said Emily.

“It does suck, a lot.”

William proceeded to give each Howard sibling a handful of the crystals, and they cast spells on each one. When finished, they tossed them gently into a bag.

“When I return we can begin,” William announced. “Lisbeth, I will need you to show me where each door is located, at each lighthouse, so I can properly set the crystals.”

“I assumed as much.”

William got a twinkle in his eye and cleared his throat. “Lisbeth, I don’t suppose you’d want to make a race of it?” He had a little energy to burn. A little angst to burn off.

“An intriguing proposal,” Lizzy spoke, her ghastly eyes aglow. “Can a vampire outrun a ghast?” She twirled around for a moment, her black veils swirling around her. “It’s my last night as a ghast, so what the hell. Let’s race.”

In the blink of an eye, the two vanished out of the cave.

“I think William kind of likes her,” said Michael.

Melinda heard Riley let out a huff. She frowned, then sighed. Unable to get mad at him for getting caught up in the mess called her life. And he did have a reason to be jealous. She had fallen hard for two men who were both off limits. She caught his eye and swallowed hard. She really did like Riley.