Chasing the Witch (Boston Witches) (23 page)

“Is that wise?” Jilly asked.

“I don’t know if it’s the best decision I’ve ever made, but it needs to be done.”

Jilly shook her head. “I don’t like it.”

“I don’t like it either,” Nikolai said from across the room. “But he’s going to do it whether we like it or not; so we may as well jump on board and keep him safe while he does it.” He shrugged his shoulders when Jilly glared at him. “Jill, I’ve known Will for too many years to try and get in his way.”

“I guess I’m outnumbered then,” Jilly said with a huff.

William turned to her. “I’ll be fine, I promise.” Everyone decided to go their separate ways after that. Emily and Adam left, but only after Jilly promised that she’d call every day. Hannah, who had been very quiet during dinner and the conversation afterwards, sort of disappeared at some point before Emily and Adam left.

Jilly was wandering around upstairs, not going anywhere in particular, when she found Hannah curled up on a window seat reading.

She looked up when she heard Jilly approach. “Sorry, I get kind of nervous in bigger groups of people.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I understand.” Jilly reached forward and grabbed for Hannah’s hand.

Hannah’s eyes turned white as soon as their skin made contact, and she spoke in a voice that wasn’t her own. “It is not for you to decide, she will do as her heart leads.” Jilly pulled her hand away and Hannah shook her head to clear it.

“Did I do it again?” she groaned.

“If by ‘do it’ you mean have weird eyes and a whispery voice, then yes.”

“What did I tell you?”

“It’s not important.”

“Why does everyone always say that? If it really wasn’t important, then why would I have said it?”

Jilly was at a loss for words. “Well, I guess it is important; but it’s sort of private. The things you say are answers to questions we have never asked. Does that make sense?”

Hannah nodded. “It’s sort of weird; usually people get a little wiggy. You and Will seem to take it well. After it happens, people tend to keep their distance; it was always hard to keep friends. Everyone is afraid of what I’ll say. My parents got used to it, I guess, but they were nervous at first.”

“Did your parents have abilities, too?”

“No, just me.”

“That must have been hard for you. Usually the transition is easier for people like us because our parents have been through it and can explain it. I remember my mom telling me stories about her transition into her power. Just hearing those made me feel better about how awkward I felt.”

Hannah shrugged. “I guess I didn’t know any better. I had some rough patches; I set the roof on fire once when I was upset. My mom and dad were nice about it though. They told me it was okay.”

“That’s a good way to look at it and I’m glad that your parents were so forgiving. I don’t think my mom or dad would have been quite so nice about it. I’ll leave you to your reading, I’m going to go find Will.” Hannah waved as Jilly walked away.

William was waiting for Jilly in her room. After searching just about everywhere else, she found him sitting on her bed reading.

Jilly laughed. “I’ve been all over the house looking for you. It never occurred to me to look in my own room.”

“Sorry, I figured you’d come here after you found Hannah. We should talk about tomorrow.”

“Yeah, what’s your big plan for that?” Jilly asked.

“Don’t be sarcastic; it doesn’t make this any easier.”

Jilly sighed. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I just would rather you didn’t do this. I don’t understand what you think you’re going to accomplish.”

“I want to see if I can reason with him before this gets out of hand and ask him to release Caroline from his hold.”

“I can’t fault your motives, Will, but I don’t think Patrick is going to listen.”

“I have to try,” William said with his voice strained.

“I get that, but please take someone with you. Take Nik.”

“If I go with someone else, he’s going to think it’s an attack. I don’t want to fight.”

“Just be careful and come back whole. What is your plan, anyway?”

“I’m going to go to the cabin and see if he’s there. If he’s not there, I’ll go to the cemetery. He’ll know I’m there.” He changed the subject. “Kat says she and Alex are going to work all day tomorrow on Hannah’s problem.”

Jilly had a sudden thought. “Hannah said she’s had a prophecy about you. What was it?”

William was caught off guard for a moment. “It was about my brother. It doesn’t matter. Did she have one about you?”

“Yeah, I don’t really know what it was, though. I’m not ready to talk about it, yet.” She put on a smile but inside her heart was clenching tight with worry.

William was out of the house before anyone woke up the next morning. He wanted to avoid a scene at breakfast. He headed to his car and drove out toward the cabin. He was oddly calm about everything; he was almost looking forward to talking with Patrick. Thirty minutes later, he pulled to the side of the road and walked the rest of the way. There was smoke coming out of the chimney, so it appeared that someone was there. He walked up and knocked on the front door.

The door swung open and Caroline was standing before him, her eyes wide in surprise. “Will? What are you doing here?” she asked, a frown spreading across her face. “Patrick isn’t going to be happy to see you.”

“I need to talk to him. You should go home.”

She smiled at him. “I think I’ll stay, thanks. I’ll go and get him for you. Please come in.” She opened the door wider and stepped aside. He walked in slowly, trying to observe everything. He heard Caroline talking to Patrick in the other room.

A few moments later, Patrick emerged. “William, to what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked, his tone vaguely annoyed.

“I figured it was time for a sit-down,” William said, his voice laced with apprehension.

Patrick nodded and gestured to the kitchen table. “Would you care for some coffee?”

“No, thank you. Let’s just get down to business, please.”

“Of course. Let’s get on with it, shall we?”

“What is it that you want, Patrick? Why are you hanging around? Sabine can’t be that important. And you know we’ll never tell you where Mary is.”

“This is my home too, William. Are we not brothers? We grew up here and I feel a strong pull to stay here.”

“That’s nonsense. Just be honest with me, for once.”

“You know why I’m here, Will. I won’t leave without what is mine,” Patrick said, his tone icy.

“And what might that be? Mary?”

“Mary is no longer my concern, Will,” Patrick scoffed. “I thought she was my match, but I was wrong.”

William was stunned by his answer. “How do you know that Mary is not your match?”

Patrick looked at his brother and smirked.

“The same way you knew that Liza was not yours.”

“Who is your match, then?” William asked quietly

“Why Caroline, of course. I thought you would have guessed that already.”

William’s eyebrows popped up in surprise. “She’s not under your control?”

“No, I would never force her into anything. She’s here because she wants to be here.”

William was thoughtful for a moment. “Caroline, can you come in here please?” he called out. A moment later, Caroline emerged. “Are you here of your own free will?”

She smiled. “Of course I am. Why else would I be here?” She walked over and sat in Patrick’s lap, putting her arms around his neck.

William felt sick to his stomach. He was dreading talking to Jilly about this. “What am I supposed to tell your sister?”

Caroline frowned. “I’ll talk to her. I just hope she can understand.”

“What do you want from Hannah?” William asked his brother.

“Hannah? Oh, you mean the young girl?” he smiled icily. “I think I’ll keep my secrets, thank you. It’s time for you to go, William. You don’t want to overstay your welcome.”

Caroline got up and showed him to the door. “Don’t say anything to Jill. Let me talk to her,” she said pleadingly.

“She already knows, Caroline. She just assumed you were under his control.” His tone was strangled.

“I can’t explain it. I just know it’s right. He’s mine and I’m his. It’s like with you and Jilly. You don’t have a choice.”

William’s eyes darkened. “Do not compare the two, Caroline. You always have a choice. Patrick is evil to the core and I only hope that you open your eyes before you get hurt.” He turned and began to walk away.

“Oh, William, tell Sabine I’ll be seeing her very soon, will you?” Patrick called out as William left.

William went slowly, his mind reeling from what he had just experienced. He couldn’t wrap his head around Caroline and Patrick together.

Caroline caught up with him about ten minutes after he left. She walked beside him silently for a few minutes. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say.”

“Are you helping him with whatever he’s doing?”

“He wanted my help, but I didn’t have the information he needed. I think at first I was compelled to go to him, but I’m not now. He’s different with me. He doesn’t have that hard exterior up. I know you hate him, Will, but I can’t help this anymore than you or Jilly can.”

“I don’t hate him, Caroline. He’s my brother and I’ll always love him. I just know that this thing between him and me, it won’t end well. You need to figure out what side you want to be on when this blows up.”

Caroline looked at him, tears streaming down her face. “Don’t say that.”

“You can’t have it both ways, Caroline. You know where we stand.” Caroline stopped walking and William continued.

Jilly was waiting for him when William walked through the door. She practically pounced on him when he came in. “How did it go? Did you see Caroline there? She’s not here.”

“It was very civil; I was a little bit surprised. Yes, she was there.”

Jilly frowned. “Why didn’t you bring her home with you?”

“She didn’t want to come back, yet.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jilly yelled.

“I don’t know, Jill. I’m tired. I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m going to take a nap and then see if I can help Kat and Alex.” William turned and walked up the stairs to his room, leaving Jilly standing alone in the living room.