Rhiannon's Revenge, page 21
Ian hugged her and lifted her from the couch. "Okay, let me teleport you home, it’s fast, and no one will see you. Let me take care of you, and help you through all this. It’s the one thing I can do."
Before she could answer, he had her standing in her bedroom. The house was quiet, so she knew neither Anya nor Fina had returned home. She kissed him again before he left as quickly as he had come. She heard the front door open, and Fina's voice shouted, "You better not have left this house!"
With a sigh of relief, Eilish answered, "I'm right here, Fina. Where else would I even go?"
33
Several days had passed, and things had been quiet, but everyone was on edge. The whole coven was constantly in whispers, and Warrick was restless. He knew Fina would play this game much too long, and he was tired of waiting on her to make a move while he sat waiting for her instructions. It was the weekend and late in the morning. He sat in his office, mulling over his coffee, when Zavian finally decided to wake up and come downstairs. Warrick spoke to himself. "No better time than the present." He heard Zavian in the kitchen and yelled at him. "Nephew, grab whatever you are after and come to the office. We need to talk, and don’t be long."
Zavian was still in his pajamas as he carried his bowl of cereal into his uncle's office, careful not to spill the milk and get yelled at again. He sat down and ate his cereal, speaking as he ate. "What do we need to talk about?"
Warrick leaned back in his giant leather chair and shook his head as he watched his nephew slurp and crunch the cereal. "Do I command no respect from you at all? Put that bowl down before you make another mess. This is important, and I need your full attention if you think you can manage that?"
Zavian looked up as some milk dribbled off his chin and dripped onto his knee. He put the bowl on his uncle's desk as his stomach growled and eyed the half-eaten cereal. He wiped his chin on his sleeve. "I was paying attention, Uncle."
"I have talked with Fina, and we have decided that you need to be more aggressive with her. Push her, Zavian. She’s getting away. We both need you to bond with her. It’s how we will hold our status in this family of Bohannon women. Grow up, be a man, romance her, put yourself out there, and always be wherever she is. Stop letting her rule you." Warrick stood up and paced the floor. "I need you to find that aggression inside you that is a warlock and make it work for you, dammit."
Zavian looked down at his bare feet and shook his head. "No. I'm not going to chase after her anymore. You want her to love me, but she doesn't; she never has. We've been friends, and that's all I'll ever be to her. I'm not doing this anymore. I've been thinking of moving back to Boston. I've never fit in here, and you know it."
Warrick walked behind his chair and slapped his hands down on the leather. "Well, the two of you make quite a pair, both seeking some damn true love storybook ending. How quaint." He sat back down in the oversized chair and looked at the ceiling. "Then, before you go, I have a mission for you to retain your good graces to the de Burke family and me." He lowered his head, staring straight at Zavian with eyes that dared him to refuse. Warrick leaned forward in his chair. "I will not take no for an answer. You will do what I ask of you, and then if you can accomplish this mission with some success, I will consider letting you return to Boston."
Zavian rolled his eyes. Warrick had tried to control his whole life, but if doing this one thing would get him out of his hair, he’d do it and get it over with. He sighed heavily, "What now?"
"Don’t take that attitude with me. This is important. Listen to me with your full attention and remember every word I say." He leaned back and took in his nephew and, for a few moments, wondered if he could even tackle this small task. "We believe that Eilish may be seeing a warlock from the Adelgrief coven in Beaufort. I’m sure she isn’t seeing anyone from this coven. I want you to follow her. They don’t know you in Beaufort; you won’t be recognized; you are the only one that can do this. You are to do nothing else; don’t interfere with wherever she goes. Just follow her, see where she goes, who she sees, and report back to me. You tell no one that you’re doing this, and I mean no one. Tell me, for once in your life Zavian, that you can do this."
Zavian felt shame. He liked Eilish a lot, even though things hadn’t gone for the two of them as planned. Now he felt like he was betraying her. But he knew if he didn't do it, his uncle would send someone else. He could not protect Eilish from whatever his uncle or Fina had planned, and the sooner he did this and got out of town, the better. His voice reflected his total resignation. "Yeah, okay. I'll follow her. But that's it. After that, I'm out. I mean it, Uncle."
Warrick smirked. "Accomplish this, and you can do whatever the hell you want. You have failed me this far; make sure you don’t screw up on this one. I can only protect you so long from Fina."
Zavian picked up his bowl of cereal, now soggy, and shuffled back to the kitchen, pouring it down the sink. He spoke in a whisper, "I'm so sorry, Eilish."
34
Fina walked from the shop to Warrick’s house on Queen. It was Saturday evening, the air was cooling, and she enjoyed the brisk walk as she was in a hurry to arrive. She hoped they would find out where Eilish went and whom she saw tonight. She looked at her watch as she approached the house, and it was 5 p.m. The girls would be closing shop in an hour; it would be enough time to get Zavian there and out of sight. She banged the door knocker and could hear Warrick walking to the door from the inside. He was close by and awaiting her arrival. As he opened the door, she smiled. "Tell me that Zavian is home and ready for this because if he isn’t, I’m blaming you."
He held the door open for her in a grand gesture. "He's here, and I've given him strict instructions. He knows what we expect. Come in. Have you eaten yet?"
Once Fina walked in, she went to the sitting room as if she owned the place. "I didn’t eat, Warrick; I’m nervous now, wondering if your nephew can manage to do this. Get him down here immediately. I want to make sure he knows what we expect." She sat down on one of the leather chairs and fanned herself, despite the cooling fall weather. "I need a drink. It was a brisk walk to get here. The girls are going out together once the store closes; we can’t stand around exchanging chit-chat."
Warrick sighed as she bossed him around. He went to the bottom of the stairs and called out to Zavian.
They heard him shuffling about in his room; then, he slumped down the stairs. "What? You want me to go now?"
Warrick ushered him to the sitting room. "Fina is here. She wants to make sure you understand our instructions; talk to her while I get her some tea."
Fina looked at Zavian as he strolled in. He looked the part at least, his clothes nondescript, hanging loosely off his body; he was much too skinny. His sneakers looked worse than those things Anya wore insistently on her feet. His long straight blonde hair was pulled back, and he wore a black hoodie which she hoped he was smart enough to pull the hood over his head when necessary. "Sit down, my dear Zavian." Fina patted the seat of the chair next to her. She smiled coyly at him. "I wish you to understand what your uncle and I want you to do. The girls will close the shop at six. Follow Eilish, don’t worry about Anya; she’s not who I’m worried about. If they should go home, stick around, they may leave later. I’ll remain here with Warrick until you return. They said they were going to the movies with Wynter and Rain, which may not be the case. So, stay hidden from view and follow her. Don’t lose her." She patted his thigh. "I know you can do this, Zavian; we must find out who Eilish is seeing. We need to protect her and keep her from making huge mistakes. I know you care about her as well." Fina had a coy smile, and her voice dripped with sympathy, but in her mind, she wanted to scream in his face not to screw this up for once in his useless life.
Warrick returned from the kitchen and handed Fina a sweet tea. Zavian nodded. "I understand. I will do what you're both asking, but I want you to know I don't like it. Eilish has been my friend since we were kids. I'm going to do this one thing, and then I'm out. Eilish cares for me like a brother, but we'll never bond, and I'm not going to stay here and let you two use me against her. I care too much for her to become the weapon you both seem intent on battering her with. I know you have specific ideas about who she should bond with, but I don't know why you can't leave her alone to find her path. I already told Warrick I'm moving back to Boston. So, this is it. No more. After tonight, even if I find nothing, even if she is at the movies with Wynter and Rain, I'm out."
Fina grinned wickedly as Zavian rambled on. She took a long sip of her sweet tea and sighed. "Oh, my dear, Zavian, I know you will never understand, but we do all this for Eilish, nothing against her. We had hoped you would snag her affections and the two of you would lead us together into the future." She stood up and shook her head. "It’s so upsetting that she should act this way after all the years I have carefully and meticulously taught and raised her. You and Warrick have been incredible in your support and love." She walked past Zavian and ran her fingers over his head. "Of course, you want to go home, but I will miss you."
Zavian cringed under her touch. He felt her negative energy flow through her fingertips and knew she wished him nothing but ill will. He felt sorry for Eilish and regretted that he'd been roped into this act of betrayal. "So, you want me to go now, then? Warrick said I needed to drive because you think she might get picked up by a warlock from Beaufort. They may not stay local. However, I can't imagine Eilish with anyone from the Adelgrief coven. That coven doesn't hold us in the highest regard for some reason."
Warrick cleared his throat. "Fina, I have rented a car for him, something discreet. The Jaguar would be noticed a mile away."
Fina smiled at Warrick. "Good. But you must keep a tail on them wherever they go, Zavian. Now, are there any other questions you have for us?"
Zavian looked down at his ragged Converse high-top sneakers and the worn hem of his jeans. He had never hated himself more. "No. Follow Eilish, no matter what. If Eilish and Anya separate, ignore Anya and stick with Eilish. Report back here with what I find. Is that it? Can I go now?"
Warrick crossed his arms over his chest. "Go, don’t fuck this up!"
Fina flung her arm at Zavian as if batting off a fly. "Come immediately back here." As she watched Zavian shuffle to the door, she lowered her head and grinned. "Oh, and Zavian. if you say one word about any of this to either of them, you hold no value for your life."
Zavian gave her a harsh stare, not responding to her threat as he stopped to check himself in the mirror in the entrance hall. He had pulled his hair back into a tight ponytail and ran his hands over his head, smoothing down any stray hair. He pulled the hoodie over his head and took a pair of glasses he's bought at the drugstore out of his jacket pocket. He had punched the lenses out, so they were just one more thing to help disguise his looks. It would be dark anyway, but he never wanted Eilish to know he had betrayed her. He grabbed the keys to the rental car from the side table and walked out, never looking back. The gray Honda Civic was parked on the street. It was a car that would blend in and never draw notice. He got in the car, adjusted the seat to accommodate his long legs, and started the engine. Once again, he apologized to Eilish for what he was about to do. He drove to the shop, parked about half a block away on the opposite side of the street, and waited. He could see the lit window of Rhiannon's Circle. It was a quarter to 6. They would be closing up soon.
Anya looked at the clock as she helped the last customer at the register. She was antsy to see Carter tonight. He was probably already in the truck parked up the street, waiting on her. As the customer left, she flipped the closed sign on the door. "Okay, sis, that’s it for the night. I’m going with Carter to his house, and you are going to Ian's for more reading. We meet at midnight before we get back to the house like usual?"
Eilish had locked the cash register, picked her hobo bag up from behind the counter, and slipped it over her shoulder. "I'll text you when I'm leaving Ian's." She followed her sister out the door, turning off most of the lights in the store. They always left a few lights burning to discourage vandalism. The protection spell prevented any break-ins, but Eilish locked the door as they stepped outside. She gave her sister a quick hug as they both parted ways.
Zavian immediately sat up straight in the car. He had half expected this evening to be a bust, that the sisters would meet Wynter and Rain, just as they had said, but clearly, they had other plans. He kept his eyes peeled, scanning the street, looking to see if there was a warlock waiting in a nearby parked car. But Eilish walked with a purpose, crossing the street and heading up Logan. Zavian was caught off guard, quickly started the car, and made a U-turn to follow her. He had expected to follow another vehicle, not to have to follow her on foot. He stayed about a block behind her and let other cars get ahead of him. Her snow-white hair made her easy to spot as she walked ahead of him on the sidewalk. The rental tags turned out to be a bonus; he drove in a start-stop pattern, looking out the window at the houses, a driving pattern the locals had grown used to with all the tourists. She walked four blocks when he saw her take a right on Beaufain. "Where the heck are you going?" He turned right at the intersection, and she was crossing the street again. He looked in the direction of the house on the opposite side of the street and saw the vampire leaning against the porch post, his arms crossed over his chest. It was the same vampire he'd seen in the shop, the one he'd had a stand-off with until Eilish intervened. He watched her as she hurried across the street to him, and the vampire stood upright as she came up the steps and wrapped his arms around her. She gave him the kiss he had waited for all his life. He shook his head, "Eilish, no." The vampire escorted her inside, and he watched as the door closed behind them.
He parked the car and sat there, stunned. He couldn't ignore what he'd seen. That was not a kiss you give a friend. Eilish wasn't seeing a warlock in Beaufort; she was seeing a vampire who lived on Beaufain Street. He didn't even want to imagine how Fina would react to this news. He dropped his head back on the headrest and closed his eyes. He'd wait here until she left. He wasn't ready to return to his uncle's house with this news. He knew all hell was about to rain down on Eilish, and the least he could do was give her this one last night.
He sat for hours and waited until he saw them both step out on the porch near midnight and watched as he teleported her away. There was no way he could follow them, but he was sure he was taking her to meet up with Anya so the two sisters could return home together. He started the car engine and headed back to his uncle’s. He parked the car in front of the house and laid his head on the steering wheel, dreading having to go inside. Even though things hadn't gone as planned for him and Eilish, he cared for her and knew her life was about to get really bad really fast.
35
Eilish stepped inside Ian's as he closed the door behind them, unaware that Zavian had followed her. She loved this rare alone time she got with him and always hated that such a significant part of their evening was spent with the book. She gave him a tighter hug once inside, absorbing his warmth. She loved how she could be completely enveloped in his hugs. "I'm starving. I hope you have something in that room you call a kitchen, or I will need to order something."
Ian just laughed as he held her tight in his arms. "Now, would I let you down? Come on. I hope you don’t mind some shrimp and corn chowder. I didn’t make it, but I picked up something at one of the restaurants. I can heat it real quick. Got some nice French bread as well." He smiled at her, kissed her again, and then growled low in his throat. "How hungry are you?"
She chuckled as she knew his question had nothing to do with her appetite for food. "Hungry enough to eat you alive, but that will have to wait. If you get me in the bedroom first, I'm afraid I'd never get around to the grimoire."
Ian arched his brows together. "A what? Wait. Did you say eat me alive?" He laughed and said, "What in hell is a grimoire? Sounds like some piece of BDSM apparatus."
Eilish laughed aloud as he pulled her dinner from the fridge and popped it in the microwave to reheat it. "A grimoire, I'm sorry... it's a term rarely used outside the Wiccan culture. But it has nothing to do with BDSM; it’s just another name for the book. It's a type of book, one of a kind. Any witch worth her salt has a grimoire. Today you can buy one already written, but a true Wiccan, a High Priestess, would usually create her own. It's typically handwritten and includes spells... written down, almost like a recipe, the things you'd need and the steps you follow. But it also has notes about different rituals, what the coven might respond to, and what was effective and what wasn't. It includes chants and meditations for centering or even healing methods. There's no rhyme or reason. It's not structured like chapters but more like a personal journal. Fina keeps one; Anya and I were encouraged to keep our own. I have to admit I haven't been as diligent about it as I should have. I always assumed Fina would pass hers down to me. It’s common to pass a grimoire down to the next generation. My book, the book from my mother's mausoleum, it’s a grimoire that was started by Rhiannon and passed down to the High Priestess in each generation of the Bohannon. I'm wading through it; some of it seems relevant to me; other times, it feels like I'm reading some random notes a long-dead relative wrote in the margins. I assume all these puzzle pieces will eventually fall into place and give me an answer." She paused a moment. "But it's hard because I don't know the question. I don't know what I'm looking for or what I'm supposed to find." She shrugged as he set the plate in front of her and sat across from her, sipping on his Midnight as she ate.
