Fated Truth (The True Witch Saga) (8 page)

“Now don’t go and
do that, Ells. You’ll make this old fart start to mist up.”

“You could never be old
, Dan, but we do need to get all of these things unloaded and put away. I have to get ready for my date tonight.” I realized a moment too late that I’d never actually talked to Uncle Dan about my date with Jaxx. I turned around slowly, trying to see if he was going to flip his shit, as my parents would.

“Well that’s great
, kiddo. I’m not going to go into all the ins and outs of these things since you’re eighteen and I’m sure you have your bases covered. Just be careful and call me if you need anything,” he said with a smile. He paused for just a minute and then took a deep breath and said, “I’m actually going out of town for the next couple of weeks. Maybe months if things work out right. Work waits for no man,” he said with a grin. “Now, I’ve set you up a checking account at the bank in town. There should be enough money in there to cover anything that might come up.”

“Where are you heading
, Uncle Dan?” I asked curiously. “You seem really excited.”

“Well
, Ella girl, I’m going back to Germany to teach at the Heidelberg University,” he said proudly. “You know, I haven’t been there since I was just about your age. I really am quite pleased by this. It’s for a whole semester. So you’ll be on your own, but you
are
an adult now, and I trust you.”

I jump
ed up and hugged his neck hard. “I’m so proud of you, Uncle Dan. Thank you so much for letting me take over your house while you’re away. I’ll take good care of everything, I promise.”

“I know you will
, Ella girl,” he said walking with me to the house. “I had my cell number changed over to a Sat phone, so you can still get in touch with me anytime you need. And I’ve left the extra house key along with some cash on the kitchen counter for you, but I need to get going or I’m going to miss my flight. So come over here and give me another.”

I reach
ed up and hugged him. I tried not to cry over losing the only family I had left, temporarily or not.

Jessa
pushed herself into our little goodbye. “Don’t worry, Mr. Dan, I’ll take good care of your little blackbird. She has a lot of people that care about her. She won’t be alone. I promise.” She finished her little speech with what I and Devon called the parental melter, her sweetest most simpering smile. When she pulled that face, she really did look like a cherub.

Uncle Dan
seemed to buy it, because he grabbed his rolling luggage from the doorway, started down the drive and began to load up his car. We followed him out and picked up the rest of our bags, moving them out of his way. He climbed into the driver’s seat and waved as he drove away.

“Come
on chica, don’t be sad. This is the best thing for him and you. You get to spread those little black wings a bit. Besides, you know me and Devon will be spending like every night here that your uncle is gone.”              She giggled and twirled in circles as she carried some of my bags into the house. “Besides, we have a date to get you ready for. A sex kitten isn’t born out of nothing. One must be made!” she called over her shoulder.

I just
rolled my eyes, grabbed the rest of my loot and followed her into my house. I was dreading the next hour or so while she tortured me with her form of fashion.

Chapter  Five

A Walk in Moonlight

Jessa decided it was time for me to get all beautified and we were running seriously late. “Com-mon, Ells, let’s get a move on! We have only an hour until your hotness gets here!” She basically shoved me into the shower and commanded that I scrub, buff, and shave.

Once
I was out, she sat me in front of the mirror and started to spackle my face. She wouldn’t let me see what she was doing, probably because she knew I would veto anything that she tried.
Let’s face it,
I thought,
I’m more of a tom girl than a glamazon like Jessa.
After she finished my face and had only poked me in the eye about a million times, she started in on my hair.

“Oh hell no! You are not getting anywhere near me with that curling iron. It
is either leave it straight or pull it up. You know my hair doesn’t hold a curl for shit.”

“Fine
, Ells. Let’s do it your way.” She blew my hair straight, then ordered me to get dressed. I still couldn’t believe that I let her talk me into the outfit we’d bought. I pulled on the tight leather mini that she’d made me buy. She paired the skirt with a jade green, filmy, strapless top with a low back. It hugged what assets I did have. Point for Jessa. The only thing we really fought over, were the shoes. I’m a chucks girl through and through, but she picked six inch black glitter platform booties. They worked well with the overall look, but I was going to end up killing myself in those things.

Once
I was dressed, Jessa turned me to look at the standing mirror. My jaw about hit the floor, I was stunning. More than stunning, actually I was smoking fuckin hot!

“I knew you were going to kill in this
, Ella. Mr. Tight ass is going to flip! In a totally good way of course,” she said, giggling to herself, but I couldn’t help but agree with her. If he didn’t think something good about the way that I looked, then the boy was blind.

“Jessa
,” I said looking at my face in the mirror, “I actually like the makeup. Thanks, girl! You went for subtle, I’m seriously surprised!”

She’d gone
with a thin black liner, nude shadow that really made my eyes pop, and blush pink lip gloss. The only thing she’d really pumped up was the mascara. I looked like I was wearing falsies. I looked like me, but just more polished. My bestie was most def a genius at this stuff.

“
Jessa…” I began, taking a deep breath. “Just wow! No wonder you want to do this kind of stuff for a living after high school!” I turned to her in wonder.

Jessa smiled and hugged
herself. I could tell she was really proud. I grabbed my new black clutch off the dresser just as the doorbell rang. Now I was really nervous. What if he didn’t like me when he really got to know me? I was just now getting to know the real me! I’d been repressing myself for so long, because of how I was raised.
Ugh. Let’s do this!
I said to myself.

Jessa went
down the stairs first to open the door, reminding me not to come down for at least five minutes, so I could make an entrance. I could hear voices in the front hall, so I started to descend the staircase. When I locked eyes with Jaxx, he looked completely stunned. He met me at the bottom step and took both of my hands in his. He gave me the once over and smiled into my eyes.

“Little raven, you are the most beautiful creature I have ever
seen,” he said enamored.

If this was
n’t a blush worthy moment, I didn’t know what was. I looked behind me to wave goodbye to Jessa, whose smile was so wide I could see every one of her teeth. Jaxx took my hand, leading me to his shiny Porsche. Once we were inside, he let out a puff of breath.

“What?” I asked.

“I have got to say, I was really nervous picking you up from your uncle’s house. He didn’t seem to like me at all the other night.”

“That’s not it at all. I think he was just nervous. He doesn’t have any kids of his own.” I smile
d to reassure him.

“Well we’d better get going. I have a table waiti
ng,” he said with a grin.

“Where?”

“Sedona’s. I took a chance…
I hope that you like the place.”

I raised an
eyebrow. “Isn’t it a bit short notice to get a table there? That place is always packed out,” I said feeling just a little bit amazed.

“Don’t worry pretty
eyes. I have my ways.” He smiled my way.

“I love Sedona’s.” I smirk
ed at him, trying to look sexy.
Hopefully not humiliating myself in the process,
I thought.

Jaxx drove to the restaurant way above the speed limit, never using his turn signal, and never slowing for other traffic. When he spoke to me he turned so that he could meet my eyes every time. When an o
ld beater of a truck almost hit us, he took the last turn toward the restaurant. I giggled and he grinned at me.

“What?”

“You’re as reckless as Jessa is when she drives,” I said and he frowned. I smiled, reassuring him. “Don’t worry, I’m used to it. It’s not a bad thing honestly. I’m used to it.”

“Fair enough,
” he replied, leaving his seat to open my door for me. He handed the valet his keys and escorted me into the restaurant.

We were seated right away at
a table near a large bay window. Even though I knew Jaxx liked the way I looked, I felt out of place with the way the rest of the patrons were looking at me. They were all older and dressed a lot more conservatively.

We ordered, and Jaxx closed his menu telling the waiter
, “And bring us a bottle of your best house wine.”

“Yes, sir,” t
he waiter said without even batting an eye as he took our menus.

“This place
is unbelievable,” I whispered leaning across the table.

“Thanks
, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Wait. What
do you mean? Does your family own this place?”

“No,
” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “
I
own this place. My uncle currently runs it since I’m still in school.” He reached across the table and took my hand.

When our hands connect
ed, the light show began again. I was startled and quickly tried to remove my hand, but he wouldn’t let go. I raised my eyes to his, questioning.

“Relax
, Ella. No one can see it but us. I promise,” he said with a grin.

Now he
was just confusing me. “You can see it too? I don’t understand.”

“Ella
, you have to know that we are different. I just assumed you knew since you’re wearing your family’s talisman.” He nodded at my neck.

I reach
ed up to touch my necklace. “I was adopted, Jaxx. I don’t know who my real family is. The family I have always known just kicked me out of their lives yesterday.”

“Shit! I should have known it was something like that. You looked so surprised when we shook hands in the Caf the other day. I just never would have guessed that you were raised by
Norms.”

“
Norms? What does that even mean? How am I different?” I asked him.

The waiter returned
to our table with our food and my line of questioning was cut off.

“Just relax
, Ella. I’ll explain everything when we have more privacy,” he assured me. “This isn’t the place for this conversation. I know you have questions, I can see them swirling in your eyes. Just take a breath. Have patience and let’s enjoy our meal,” he suggested.

We talked endlessly about our in
terests during the meal and I realized that we had a lot in common, but the weight of what had just been sprung on me was causing a giant knot to form in my stomach. Jaxx was charming, funny, and said all the right things as he tried to keep my mind from wandering past the present.

Various people approached our
table to greet him and he always proudly introduced me with a smile. When we left the restaurant I felt all eyes on us. He was like a celebrity. Everyone wanted his attention, asking his opinion on things. When we got to the door he handed the ticket to the valet.

“Okay
, Ella, just a few more minutes. We’ll go back to my place and I’ll tell you all that I know. I promise I will answer as many of your questions as I can.”

I let out a huge breath at that and start
ed to relax for the first time since we arrived at the restaurant. He drove to his house which was quite a ways outside of town.

“Your home
is gorgeous,” I said as we pulled into his drive. “Are your parents at home?” I was worried about meeting his parents on top of everything else.

He pulled the car around in front of the house and stopped
. “No. This is my home. My parents passed many years ago.”

“Oh,
I’m so sorry. I had no idea,” I said softly and then stayed silent for a long moment, just sitting in the plush leather seat. I turned to look at him and he seemed to be lost in thought. “Jaxx, really, I’m sorry. I spoke without thinking. I just didn’t know what to say.”

“Like I said
, Ella, it was a very long time ago. I barely even remember them anymore.”

We go
t out of the car and headed for the front door. Jaxx disabled the security system. “The code is 06202002, I’ll write it down for you later, I want you to feel safe here. If you ever need a place to go, you can come here. Anytime, Ella, I mean it.”

I just stay
ed mute as we walked in the front entryway. It was vast and opulent. That’s the only way I could explain it. All marble floors and white statues.