Charmed and Dangerous: An Appalachian Magic Novel (Appalachian Magic Series Book 1) (5 page)

“Sure, appreciate the ride. Nice to meet you both,” James said with a nod to his interrogators.

“See you in a bit,” Callie said, ushering James out of the lion’s den.

“Wait, Callie,” Mom called as they slipped into the foyer.

James winked at her. “I’ll get Sin and wait for you on the front porch.”

Callie stuck her head back in the den. “What?”

“Are you sure it’s safe?” Mom whispered. “This could be a trap from your father.”

“A trap?”

“Someone befriends you and then lures you to Lucas.”

“You’re being ridiculous. Can we talk about this later?”

Mom pursed her lips, thinking it over. “Okay, but be careful.”

Callie rolled her eyes, grabbed an umbrella, and stepped outside to join James. “Time to make another run for it. Only now we’ve got an umbrella.”

Electricity crackled between them as they climbed in the car. Sin jumped in the backseat, wagged his tail, and shook out his fur, splattering them.

Shivering from cold, Callie turned on the heat. “It’ll take a few minutes to warm up.”

“I don’t think your mom likes me.” His tone was neutral.

“She has an overly-suspicious mind.”

He stretched his long feet in the cramped Volkswagen. “Then I won’t take it personally.”

Once they got on White Plains Gap Road that connected the two mountains, Callie sent him covert side-glances. Mom had planted the seeds of suspicion, so she tried to see him objectively and take a step back from the initial attraction. It was hard. Not only was James good-looking, there was undeniable chemistry between them.

“Take a right here. This road takes you to my house.”

Callie turned and started up the mountain. The higher they went, the narrower and more winding the road became.

“I’m glad there’s no snow and ice like in New Jersey. If there was, I’d be really nervous about now.”

“You don’t sound like you’re from Jersey.”

“I only lived there a few years, not enough for the accent to stick.”

“What brings you to Piedmont now?”

She paused. “I moved back in with my mom.”

James nodded. “Were you living with your dad in Jersey?”

“No.” She took her eyes off the road, frowning, searching his face. “What makes you ask about my Dad?”

James threw up his hands defensively. “A natural assumption. Sorry.”

His easy smile relaxed her. “True. I should have realized . . . Anyway, I was living with my aunt. I came here to reconnect with my family. I’ll be attending Piedmont College for a couple of semesters.”

“Guess I’ll be seeing you at school.”

“Great!” Callie blushed at her enthusiastic response. “I’ll be the new girl, so seeing a familiar face will be nice.”

“This is my house here on the left.” He pointed to a large, wooden A-frame home that looked like an expensive vacation ski lodge.

“Awesome.” She pulled into the driveway. “The views must be incredible.”

“That’s why Dad bought it.”

She stopped the car. The rain had let up some, but it still beat down pretty strong. “Want to borrow my umbrella? You can give it back to me later.”

He brushed aside her question. “Come inside for a minute.”

“You said y’all were going out. I don’t want to hold you up.”

“A few minutes won’t matter. You can meet him, and I’ll give you a grand tour of the place.”

The minute Callie entered the house, she couldn’t help but be awed. They walked into a huge great room with a back wall of plate glass. It almost felt as if they were still in the midst of the winter storm. Wind-blown sheets of rain loudly beat against the windows while trees bent and swayed in unison. Bolts of white-blue lightening crashed into the valleys below.

“Amazing.” Callie strolled to the window. “With a view like this, you don’t ever need to leave home.”

She sensed James behind her. Even without touching, she felt the heat from his body. He was dangerous all right. She leaned back into him and closed her eyes. A sense of peace and comfort settled around her.

“James, where’ve you been? I thought we were heading . . .”

Callie whirled around to find a middle-aged man walking through the kitchen.

“Hey, Dad. Went out for a hike this morning and met a new friend. This is Callie.”

An easy smile lit Mr. MacLauren’s face. She couldn’t tell much resemblance to his son. Where James was tall and dark, his father was only medium height and his hair a light brown with a fair sprinkling of gray. His eyes were kind and, like James, he seemed in excellent shape with the same bristling vitality.

He extended his hand to her, and she did likewise. Their palms touched, and his eyes registered surprise and then wariness.

“Nice to meet you.” Callie almost choked on the words as his face hardened into suspicion. She looked at James and saw he also noticed his dad’s reaction.

“My pleasure.” He nodded coolly and turned to his son. “We better get a move on if we’re going to Rome. The rain’s gonna slow us down.”

“I was leaving.” Callie headed for the door eager to leave the suddenly stifling atmosphere.

“I’ll walk you out.” James grasped her firmly by the elbow.

The minute they were on the porch, she flashed him a rueful gaze. “I don’t think your dad likes me.”

He didn’t deny it. “What is it with our parents? Maybe we should introduce them.”

His laughing eyes eased her embarrassment. Who cared what they thought anyway?

“Well . . . I really should go. Have fun on your trip.” She popped open the umbrella and dashed to her car.

Once inside, she glimpsed James standing in the doorway waving. The scent of Sin’s wet fur lingered in the interior. She drove down the mountain as rain pelted the window. Without James by her side, the memories of last night came flooding back.

Your father’s not dead, Callie.

He’s an evil man.

The swipe of the windshield wipers beat out the same warning as the Ouija board did six years earlier.

Dan-ger. Dan-ger.

“
I
can’t believe
break’s over and it’s time for classes.” Skye’s older brother, Michael, tapped the steering wheel with one hand while glancing at his cell phone with the other.

“Maybe you should pay more attention to the road,” Callie said.

The twisting street was wet from the recent rains. Carpooling wasn’t such a good idea after all. Still, when Skye offered a ride, she was grateful not to have to start the new college alone.

“Only five and a half months and then we’re out of this small town.” Skye was cheerful as ever. The cold, wet Monday morning return to school didn’t get her down. “You should move to Tuscaloosa with us, Callie. You’d love the University of Alabama. It’s huge. Lots to do.”

“Just think, this summer we get to start practicing football at Bama. Bet a few days of practice at one hundred degrees with ninety-five percent humidity and we’ll wish it was winter.”

Callie looked at the tall, lean guy beside her in the backseat. Tanner, Skye and Michael’s friend, had eyes alive with mischief. He turned his attention to her. “Are you going to be at the coven meeting Friday?”

She met his gaze with surprise. “You know about it?”

“Tanner’s a witch too,” Skye assured her.

The openness of it all was astounding. In Jersey, she and Aunt Mallory were the only witches she knew, and they had to be secretive even in their own home.

“Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Hope you’re coming, sky-clad,” Tanner said, dark eyes sparkling.

“What’s that?”

Michael roared with laughter, choking on his morning Diet Coke.

“Don’t tease her,” Skye scolded. “I’ll explain sky-clad to you later,” she said to Callie. “When we get to school, I’ll take you in to get registered and show you where your classes are. Got your transcript?”

“Check.” Callie glanced down at her notebook and then patted her jeans pocket to make sure she had the amber.

“Guess you’ve turned Yankee on us.” Michael’s eyes caught hers in the dashboard mirror.

He had the same green eyes as his sister, but the similarity ended there. Where Skye was petite and redheaded, Michael had light brown hair, conservatively cut, and a stocky body suited for football. He had a full scholarship to play linebacker for Alabama, which was fortunate since his grades sucked. Although a year older than Skye, he’d been held back in first grade and had been in their same grade growing up. Hence, the extra year at community college to pull up his grade point average. Skye and Tanner had opted to attend with him so they could start Bama together.

“Yep. I’m a Southern Yankee,” Callie said. It was fun being with Skye and Michael again. She turned to Tanner. “How long have you been in Piedmont?”

“About five years. My dad lost his job in Scottsboro when the textile mill closed. We have family here, and they helped set him up in the dry cleaning business.”

“Your family’s part of the coven?”

“Yeah. I hardly ever go to the meetings myself though. Boring.” He gave an exaggerated yawn. “Mostly it’s just a bunch of old women.”

“What about you, Michael? Do you go?”

“Most of the time.”

“How big is the coven now?” she asked.

“We’ve stayed pretty small,” said Skye. “There’s about twenty of us, mostly older women. We meet every full moon and get together for the major sabbats.”

“The only people in the coven younger than us are the twelve-year-old Fillcrest twins,” said Tanner. “Their mom, Morgan, calls herself the
pagan soccer mom
. She’s the only one in the coven out of the broom closet. Even drives a black SUV with the license tags HEXU. Everyone likes her in town; they just think she’s a bit of a kook.”

Callie snickered. “Guess that’s better than being ridiculed or run out of town with pitchforks.”

The parking lot was full of pickup trucks with either Alabama or Auburn football bumper stickers. Students milled around, talking and laughing, some smoking cigarettes by their vehicles before following the crowd inside. She searched for James but no luck.

As they entered the noisy building, Callie was glad to have Skye as a guide. After today, she’d have the layout nailed.

“This way.” Skye pointed to the left.

Hard to get excited about classes when all she could think about was her father and James. She followed as Skye pushed open the office door.

A cold darkness immediately chilled her body, and she came to an abrupt halt. It was like being thrown into a deep cave. The sensation came and went so fast, she wondered if she imagined it. She glanced around. Everyone else was chattering and going about their business. Skye held the door open.

“Ready?”

“Sure.” Callie shrugged it off. Must be new-girl-at-school jitters.

A middle-aged woman frantically tried to answer ringing phones while students shoved notes in her direction. Skye took Callie’s papers and waved them in front of the secretary. The woman scowled and motioned them to take a seat in the crowded lobby.

“Looks like this might take a while,” Skye said. She jerked a folding chair out from the wall and sat down on it with a loud thump.

Callie rolled her eyes. “Who cares if we’re late for class? It’s just school.”

Skye snickered. “You’re right. What was I thinking?”

Twenty minutes later, the scene was still bedlam. Phones kept ringing, and late students straggled in with written excuses. Several times Skye attempted to approach the secretary only to be dismissed with an impatient wave.

The door to the Dean’s office opened, and a paunchy, slightly balding man with glasses surveyed the room. His eyes rested on Callie, and he started over.

“That must be the new dean,” Skye muttered. “Mr. Pierce, the old one, suddenly retired before Christmas.”

“I’m Mr. Connors. Can I help you ladies?” He extended his hand to each of them.

Callie’s hand touched his, and a low thrum of energy created an uncomfortable tingling in her right arm. She pulled her hand back and discretely shook it out. What was that all about? She glanced at Skye but she didn’t seem to notice anything amiss.

“This is Callie Bradford. She’s transferring from a school in New Jersey.”

He gave a curt nod. “I can help y’all with that. Come into my office.”

A light-headed ringing buzzed in her brain, and she was grateful to sit again until she noticed the toxic atmosphere was even worse here than the lobby.

Connors sat behind his desk, looking over the papers, while she checked out the room. On his desk was a framed photograph of two small children at the beach, playing in the sand. Probably his kids. There was nothing else in the office of a personal nature. She shifted slightly as the amber in the front pocket of her jeans heated against her skin.

“Everything seems to be in order. I trust the transition to Piedmont College won’t be difficult. Your grades are excellent.”

“Thanks.” Callie met his eyes. His black pupils gave her the sensation of falling and becoming trapped in a deep well. There was a buzzing in her ears, and the voices of others sounded far away.

“Great,” Skye chirped. “So everything’s set.”

“I have you a prepared class schedule.” He handed it to her, his gaze intent. “If you have any problems, let me know, and I’ll do my best to help.”

“Okay,” she managed, coming unsteadily to her feet. She hurried to the door before he could shake her hand again. Nausea churned her stomach.

“Whoa, slow down,” Skye said when they were in the hallway. “What’s your hurry? Like you said earlier, it’s just school.”

“That Connors gives me the creeps. Didn’t you get any funny vibes in there?”

“No. He’s just a geeky old guy. Did you see a dark aura around him or something?”

“No aura.” She shook her head. “I only see them after I’ve meditated, and I always ask someone’s permission before I look. I’ve heard it’s like invading someone’s private space.”

“I wouldn’t worry about the old man. Unless you plan on making trouble here, I doubt you’ll ever see him again.”

Callie started to tell Skye about the trapped sensation but decided to let it go. No reason to ever go in there again.

T
he day dragged
on until last period, American History 402.

Before Callie saw his face, her body experienced a jolt of electric recognition. James was near. She searched the crowded classroom and located him sitting in the back. He waved her over to an empty chair beside him. What luck!

As she slid behind the desk, James gave her a wink. A heated flush warmed her face and neck. The scourge of the shy.

“I hoped we’d have a class together,” she said. She couldn’t stop staring. His hair was dark, a bit longish with a slight curl at the ends that touched near his collarbone. He was muscular in a lean kind of way, not bulky from weightlifting like Tanner and Michael.

James leaned close. “The school secretary had your schedule printed out on her desk this morning. I took the opportunity to snoop and saw you were in this class, so I saved you a seat.”

“Attention, students. Let’s focus and get back to work.” The professor waved a thick book in the air. “We’ve already covered the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and Reconstruction. The second half of the year, we’ve got the World Wars, Cold War, Vietnam, Gulf War, and today’s Middle Eastern Conflicts to study.”

Wonderful. Human history neatly catalogued as brief spaces of peace between wars, punctuated by peaks of mass violence. She opened her book and tried to concentrate.

Midway through class, a vague sense of unrest wafted through the air, distracting her. She pinpointed its location—right in front of her where Skye and Tanner sat. Tanner slouched in his seat and held his cell phone in his lap, texting away. After a quick glance at the professor, he stopped and hit send. The cute, blonde girl next to him cautiously slipped her cell phone out of her purse, read a text message, and smiled at Tanner.

Skye sent them a withering look. Ah, so that’s how it was. That sense of unease she’d detected was plain old jealousy. If she peeked at Skye’s aura, it would be swirling with green envy. Poor Skye. Tanner treated her only as his best friend’s little sister. Did he even realize she had a crush on him?

The blonde girl began texting. Hard to listen to the teacher while watching the drama play out two seats in front. Finished, the blonde giggled and slid Tanner a coy glance.

The professor caught on. “Miss Singer, you know there’s no cell phones allowed on in class. Is there something so important to make you violate the rule? If so, why don’t you share it with the rest us?”

“No, sir,” blondie said, all innocence. Quickly, she slipped her phone back in her purse.

Skye snorted, and Tanner kicked her foot under the desk.

“Ouch!” Skye said loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Okay, class, let’s get it together again. If I see any more cell phones out, I’ll take them up.”

The minute class ended, James headed out the door with a breezy wave. He still hadn’t asked for her phone number, but at least this time she knew she would be seeing him again. At least five days a week from two o’clock until three o’clock.

A
fter school Friday
, James went for his usual hike in the woods. Halfway through, the faint sound of rustling leaves alerted him to danger. He slowed his pace, straining to hear any other suspicious sounds. Nothing. He continued walking up Booze Mountain but not as fast. His acute senses were roused, an automatic reflex after over a hundred years of experience defending himself against enemies.

There it was again, the noise a little closer now. Animal or human? Whoever or whatever was out there tried to mask the sound of its footsteps in the ebb and flow of the wind. He walked faster to see if the other’s pace increased then came to a complete stop. Twigs and leaves crackled in a steady advance. This was no animal. His senses tingled.

Another immortal was closing in.

The wind picked up to a blustery pace, making it impossible to pinpoint his foe’s location. James bent, pulled a fifteen-inch bowie knife from his boot, and removed his jacket for battle. Even though he hadn’t fought another immortal for over five years, he knew it was either fight or die. The knife was always with him for protection, but if this immortal carried the traditional broadsword, his own weapon would be far inferior. He’d have to depend on speed and strategy to win.

His blood pulsed rapidly through his veins as his body prepared to defend itself. Every beat of his heart coursed more energy and heightened sensations, increasing his strength. He crawled between two small trees located behind waist-high, thick groundcover, hoping this would conceal him until his eyes scoped in on the enemy. It was quiet now; not even the leaves rustled in the wind.

He didn’t have to wait long.

What type of immortal was tracking him? The kind that killed to steal the power of their slain brothers, or was it the other variety of immortality like him? Smaller in number, the more enlightened of his species only wanted to live undisturbed by the power-lusting kind.

Today he’d run into the wrong kind.

James was no fool. He never initiated attacks, but he practiced his skills daily, knowing they were vital in the next inevitable death match. He wondered if his enemy discovered him by accident or if this immortal had hunted him down. Either way, he needed all his savvy to stay alive.

Crack.
The limbs of a nearby tree rocked.

James turned toward the sound, which was a mistake. His attacker had thrown a large stone from over a hundred yards away, an impossible throw for a mere mortal, but easy enough for their kind. By the time James realized his mistake, the attacker crouched a mere thirty yards away and would be upon him before he had time to stand and was ready to strike. The enemy raised his sword, eyes wild and intense as a rabid dog. Black hair, midway down his back, swirled in the winter wind. Bare-chested, his skin glistened with sweat.

“Today’s your last day on Earth!” he shouted as he lunged toward James and thrust his sword.