Shadow Bend (Witches of Sanctuary Book 3) Page 13

  “Julien is upstairs resting, Willa.” Lyric comes and sits across from me. “He seems to be perfectly fine.”

  “And the others?”

  Reid smiles, reaching over to rub my knee beneath the blanket. “All fine, thanks to you.”

  “I still can’t believe it.” Lyric lets out a half laugh. “I mean, did you see the shadow leave them? And me, I felt like it dissolved away inside of me.”

  I sit up a little straighter. “I didn’t see a shadow.”

  “Well, you were too busy performing your magic. It was your tornado. It’s like it sucked this black shadow out of each of them, then your lightning struck them.”

  The lightning I remember, but I never saw a shadow. “What did the shadow do?”

  “It came together, the three pieces combined back into one, and it disappeared inside the vortex you created.”

  Reid squeezes my knee. I hadn’t realized he hadn’t let go of me. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”

  My thoughts are sluggish, and it takes me a moment to piece them together in the right order. “Why did Leo say all that about being there when I need him?”

  Lyric chuckles. “Because he has a thing for you, Willa. It’s like an epidemic around here.”

  “He wasn’t hitting on me. He didn’t mean it like that, or he would have lost his voice because of Reid’s potion. He meant it in a different way. Leo knows something else he isn’t telling us. I think it has something to do with this silly blade he’s been looking for.”

  “Leo left. He went back to his castle.” Reid scoots closer to me, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Drink your tea and rest. Tomorrow morning, the Haunted will wake up to a new day, and everything will be fine in Sanctuary again. You’ll see.”

  I hold Leo’s pendant in my hand and squeeze it. Sanctuary isn’t safe yet. Leo’s words haunt me. “Yes, the Haunted are free.”

  ***

  I wake up and drink more of Sadie’s potion. Then I take a shower and drink two more cups of it. I have to get my strength back. Walking around feels like exercise, and the thought of performing magic sounds almost painful. I put on an extra pair of socks before slipping my feet in my boots.

  I’m brushing my hair when a voice enters my room. “Willa?”

  I glance up to find Erika standing in my doorway. She smiles at me, and I jump to my feet. “You’re awake.”

  “Alive,” she says, as if correcting me. She touches her hand to her heart. “I’m alive, and I’m alone.” Tears form in her eyes, and a smile contorts into a sob. “Thank you.”

  I run to her, and she hugs me before I can even open my arms.

  “You could have let me go. I know Julien had a lot to do with your decision to save us, but I just want to say thank you. Thank you for loving him enough to save us all.”

  The guilt hits me at her words, because honestly, it was Julien I was saving last night. Sure, I was angry about all of them, but it was his life I so desperately wanted to save.

  Erika finally lets go and pushes her hair away from her face. “You’ve given me a lot of second chances at life, Willa. I promise, I’m not going to take them for granted. I’m going to do something good for this world…for this town. I’m going to live up to my brother’s legacy.”

  I touch her cheek. “I hope you do.”

  She grins brilliantly. “Lyric took Julien home to see his grandmother. He left a message for you downstairs, though.”

  “Oh?”

  She steps out of my way. “He asked if I would bring it to you.”

  I rush downstairs, snatching the small piece of paper off my kitchen table. Romeo sits next to it, eyeing it like it might be something he needs to shred. I unfold it, recognizing the scrawling handwriting of my friend.

  Willa,

  Don’t worry, I’m not running off to do something stupid. There isn’t a need for heroic acts now that you’ve saved us. Lyric told me what you did last night.

  You. Saved. Me.

  I absolutely plan on thanking you in person, and celebrating. I’m not much on parties, but if there was anything that ever needed celebrating, this is it. I’ve already talked to the others. We’re going to meet at Rooster’s tonight. Drinks on me.

  I have to go with Lyric to see my grandmother. She won’t believe it unless I tell her in person. The curse of the Haunted is gone. I’m free.

  Julien

  Erika has made her way downstairs. I eye the letter a moment longer. “He seems in a good mood.”

  “It appeared that way when he gave me the letter.” Erika zips up her large, puffy coat. “Lyric seemed kind of surprised by it too. I think that’s why he went with him.”

  A part of me wants to go to Rebekah’s house and interrogate Julien. It’s unlike him to have this kind of one-eighty turnaround in his mood. “How is Grady?”

  “He seems fine. Talbot took him to their house. Reid said he didn’t see any reason to keep him at the jail anymore.”

  I go quiet, still thinking about Julien. I can’t keep that look he had on his face last night out of my head. He was so upset before the spell started that he wouldn’t even stand near the circle, and now he wants to go out and celebrate. Leo is really the one I want to track down. I wish my family would have pushed him for more information last night. I was too drained to even lift my voice to respond to him.

  His pendant is in my pocket. I pull it out, examining it thoroughly for the first time. When I flip it over, I realize there’s something engraved around the edge. It’s so small that the words are hard to see. “Hey, you wouldn’t happen to have a magnifying glass on you?”

  It’s a silly question, I know. Erika comes over to peek at the pendant in my hand as I twist and turn it to get a better angle. “No, but I have reading glasses in my bag.”

  She grabs her backpack from the couch and digs through it. She hands me a pair of polka-dotted glasses. I put them on, moving directly under the light. The words are still difficult to make out, but after a moment I start to put it all together.

  “Keep secret. Keep truth. Protect the light until thine own be tested.”

  I take the glasses off and hand them back to Erika. She folds them together. “What do you think it means?”

  “I think it means I need to talk to Leo.” I put his pendant around my neck with my own and grab my phone. I don’t have his number. I don’t even think I can find my way back to the castle if I tried. Leo promised he would be back once he told Louie the curse has been ended. I’ll just have to wait for him.

  I decide to go to my bookstore. Reid convinced me to hire someone to work the counter until all this curse business was finished, but today, he’s there. I think he likes the peace and quiet as much as I do. When I arrive an hour later, I find him sitting in an aisle, sorting through new books. He places each of them on a shelf with the same precision a doctor might place a stitch.

  He glances up at the ding of the bell on the door. “Hey—” He hops up to his feet, twirling the book in his hands around.

  I take seat in my red chair by the window and hold up Julien’s letter for him to see. “So, I hear we’re having a party tonight?”

  He scratches his head with the end of the book. He looks about as pleased about the idea as I am. “That’s what I heard. Abby said Julien seemed pretty set on the idea.”

  I get up to lean up against one of the shelves, still a little weak-kneed, but I can tell Sadie’s potion is making a difference. “Doesn’t that seem odd to you? After how he’s acted the past couple of days?”

  “I guess. But he’s also not going to die or be doomed to turn back into an evil being set on killing the people he loves. I can see why he might be excited to have all that behind him.”

  “Maybe.”

  Reid motions me to him. We sit next to each other on the floor, tucked away in the back aisle. When I look around, I can’t see anything but books. The spurt of a coffeemaker drifts down the stairs, and I allow myself to imagine this is what life could be like. I come to the sh
op every day, opening early in the morning. In the summer, I’ll sit out on the balcony like my mother used to do and drink coffee while the town wakes up. Reid will stop by after work, and we’ll sit here in the aisle together, stocking shelves. I might steal a kiss, or maybe twenty kisses. We’ll stop for dinner at Rooster’s with our family, because—let’s face it—I can’t cook either. That’s something we’ll have to learn how to do together.

  I close my eyes, imagining the image I created, and I try, so very hard, to force Julien into that scenario with us. He doesn’t look happy, though. All I see is that same look on his face he had yesterday before he stepped foot in the circle. This…the way I would have our life be…will never be enough for him.

  “Look—” Reid points to the window at the front of the store. It’s snowing again.

  That same sense of dread engulfs me until I remember it’s no longer needed. Julien is free. We made the deadline. His life is finally his own, and he can go live it however he wants now. Even if that means I’m not in it.

  Reid kisses my cheek, distracting my thoughts. “You know, Christmas is only a couple days away.”

  I lay my head against his shoulder, happy for the distraction. “You celebrate?”

  “Of course. I celebrate any holiday that has food and presents. You don’t?”

  I shrug. “I never really believed in Santa. Kinda hard when the one present you received was delivered by your caseworker, and every year it was the same thing. Socks. Always socks.”

  Reid holds me closer, the pity very clear on his face. “We should get a tree. A real one. We can chop it down ourselves and drag it back to the house.”

  I laugh. “Do you know what Romeo would do if we brought a giant pine tree into the house?”

  “Do you know what he would do if we brought a fake one? He’d be insulted. I know that cat, and he’s a spoiled brat.”

  I laugh against his shoulder, snuggling him tight. The thought is comforting. I still haven’t gotten used to this whole be a family thing, but I like it. Christmas seems kind of futile, though, when I already have the one gift I wished for every year…them.

  All I ever wanted from Santa was a family.

  I spend the rest of the day with Reid in the shop, tending to the few customers that come and go. The snow keeps falling, and I sit in the giant chair by the window and watch it. A snowplow clears the roads, and the streetlamps pop on at dusk. It looks like a postcard, or something you’d find displayed on a shelf in Leo’s castle. A winter wonderland filled with magic. As time approaches to go to Rooster’s for the party, I start packing up my things. Reid and I make the walk down the street together, admiring the festive lights hung on the buildings.

  Have they been there this whole time? Has everyone else been preparing for a holiday while I wasted away with worry?

  The familiar bell dings when I open the door to the restaurant. The place is buzzing with people. Maybe it’s because of the snow, or the town is just excited about the approaching holiday.

  Everyone is already there, but it’s Julien who catches my eye first. He’s sitting on the bar. He raises a filled glass of something multicolored into the air. “The guest of honor is here!”

  Julien’s features are sallow, and his expression doesn’t match his words. He looks like he’s attending a funeral rather than a celebration. Suddenly, as a break in a rainstorm, his demeanor changes. A smile so big it can only be fake crosses his face.

  “Okay,” Reid says low enough so only I can hear him. “Something is wrong with him. He’s either gone into complete denial, or lost it.”

  I attempt to smile, but I’m sure it comes out wrong. Everyone cheers, even though most of the people there don’t even realize why they’re cheering. Julien hops off the bar, and Reid gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’m going to get a drink. Yell if you need me.”

  Reid and Julien exchange friendly hellos on his way to the bar, then Julien makes his way to me. “Wilhelmina!” He can’t seem to stop yelling. “You made it. I was afraid you didn’t get my message.”

  “No, I got it.” I’ve never seen him likes this before. He’s not just happy, but enthusiastically so. “Are you okay?”

  “Of course. I’m free.”

  I grab his shoulder to keep him steady. “You’re also drunk.”

  “We’re celebrating. You ended the curse. I’m no longer tied to this stupid town. Or you.”

  And there it is.

  That didn’t take very long.

  I take away the drink in his hand. He can’t be very good at holding his liquor, because he hardly ever drank. I think he mentioned one time that drinking lowered his inhibitions and allowed the shadow to take over his actions easier. He would have to build up his tolerance now.

  “I think you’ve had enough.”

  He tries to pull the drink back. “It’ll be enough when you stop looking so beautiful.”

  I swat his hand away. “First of all, that isn’t how it works. And secondly, we need to talk, and I would rather do that with a sober Julien.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about.” His voice turns curt, and I know all those emotions he’s pushed down since waking up this morning are slowly making their way back to the surface. “You’re with him. Hell, you’ve always been with him. I don’t see any point in talking about how I’ve been an idiot.”

  I let out a long, exaggerated sigh before grabbing him by the arm. I go over and plop his drink down on the bar. I make sure to shoot Lyric a dirty look for allowing him to get this way.

  Lyric frowns. “I tried,” he says, then points to Abby and the rest of them. “We all tried. You know you’re the only one who can deal with his type of crazy.”

  Reid slides the keys to his truck down the bar to me. “I’ll catch a ride home with them.”

  Thank you. I’m sorry about this.

  Reid shrugs and take a sip of his drink. Lyric is right. You’re the only one who can deal with him, and he’s obviously having a rough day.

  I know, but—

  He needs you. I meant what I said about you coming back to Sanctuary for both of us. Julien needs his friend. You’re that person for him. You’re the only one who can get him through this.

  I give Reid a smile and grab the keys. I wave to everyone else as I drag Julien out the door.

  Chapter 16

  CHAOS

  Everything about being in Reid’s truck feels familiar. Déjà vu in the worst way. Except, last time I sat in the passenger seat, scared Reid might actually make me leave Sanctuary. My future was so uncertain. I didn’t know if I would ever have a place here or in my own family. I glance over at Julien. He’s clearly sulking and sorting through the same dilemma. “Buckle up. I’ve never driven in the snow, so you might need it.”

  “We should be celebrating,” he says, opening his mouth to add more, but then decides against it.

  I keep my hand on the gearshift, not willing to put it into drive just yet. “Go on…spit it out. You obviously have more to say. That’s why you planned this party, isn’t it? You needed a couple shots to get it out.”

  He frowns at me. “I planned this party for you.”

  “Me? I’m not the one who had an evil entity ripped from my body.”

  “But now your obligation is over. You can stop feeling guilty about me. You’re finally free too.”

  I can’t even make myself look at him. He’s hurt. He’s insanely drunk. Julien wants to hate me, and he is grasping for a reason. I can’t let myself lose it right now.

  “Obligation,” I mutter under my breath to keep from knocking him in the head. I reach over and grab his seatbelt and buckle him in myself. He doesn’t say anything else. I wouldn’t either, if I were him. The glare I shoot him is practically hostile. The roads are turning icy again, and I have to be extra careful. My heart pounds in my ears, willing myself to scream at him. And I probably will as soon as I get him to my house safely.

  I pull into the driveway and shove it into park. The windsh
ield wipers are still swishing loudly. Julien stares down at his hands in his lap. My fingers flex around the steering wheel. “I can’t believe you’d say that to me after everything we’ve been through.” My grip tightens, turning my knuckles white. “This has always been about you…keeping you in my life. And you’re just going to sit there and act like I’m going to be happy when you leave.”

  “Who said I was leaving?”

  “Everyone. Everyone says you’re going to leave. You said it yourself. You are no longer tied to this stupid town anymore.”

  Julien’s features are tight, and he clings to the door, holding onto the handle. “I’m a nuisance to you.”

  “You’re my friend.”

  “I’m your ex, Wilhelmina.” He looks away, his gaze fixated on some point out the window. “I’m the guy you dated and decided you didn’t want.”

  I get out of the car and slam the door. The snow is deep, and I trip over my own feet and fall forward into it. Julien gets out, his hand reaching to help me up. I throw snow at his stupid face instead.

  “Hate me, Julien. If that’s what you need to get over me, then go ahead and do it.” I finally manage to bring myself back up to my feet and dust the snow off. “But at the very least, hate me for a good reason. I hate me because the curse got it all wrong. I’m the most selfish one of us. Hate me because I’m still selfish. I don’t want you to leave Sanctuary. Hate me because even after all this, I still want you to be tied to me…to be my friend even when I know it won’t make your pain go away.”

  He steps closer, his face becoming visible in the light. I start to shiver from the anger and the cold. Julien holds his hand out. “C’mon. Let’s at least go inside so you’re not freezing to death.”

  I glare at him a moment longer, but finally take his hand. Once we are inside, I flip on the light, and he locks the door behind us. I pull my jacket tighter around me, but I’m wet now, and something much colder keeps trying to take hold of me.

  Julien paces the floor in front of the door. “You’re right. It didn’t go away.”