The Demon, the Witch, and the Priest, page 18
She was so young. So fragile.
Even Kane thought so.
Gio could see with each interaction, Kane was getting a little softer towards her. He stayed quieter about her now and only teased Gio when he was feeling irritable and restless.
Kane could deny it, but they both knew the truth. After he had seen what she had done to Alastor, so brave and fearless, Kane had started to see her a little differently.
Just because I find her formidable does not mean I like her, Kane protested.
Gio didn’t mind. If Kane felt for her, he would protect her. Gio knew he needed all the help he could get in that department.
Paige could be careless sometimes.
He knew her magic would get her into trouble eventually, and he may need Kane to back him up. It would be to his advantage if Kane were working with him on a common goal, not just because he wanted to get into a physical altercation.
She’s tough, Giovanni. More so than you think.
“I don’t want her to be tough. I want her to be safe.”
It’s not so much up to you, now is it?
Gio wanted to tell him to shut it up, but he knew Kane was right. It would all play out how it was supposed to one way or the other, and there wasn’t anything he or Kane could do to stop it.
Quietly, Gio sat in his chair, content to watch her sleep the night away.
49
Paige-
Paige dreamt she was standing in the front yard of a grand Victorian home. It had a large porch and a few stained-glass windows scattered from the ground floor to the third-story attic.
There was an odd familiarity creeping over her as she stared at the yellow home with green and burgundy accents. A white picket fence covered in red roses enclosed the lush green lawn.
Paige stood on the stone pathway until the front door finally opened.
An older woman stared back with a smile. The woman waved, but Paige was dumbstruck. She didn’t know who the older woman was. Honestly, she wasn’t sure where this house was or why it felt like deja vu.
When Paige didn’t wave back, the woman stepped out onto the porch and headed towards Paige. She was also much older than Paige had initially thought. Maybe sixty-ish.
The woman was sweet-looking with a welcoming smile and vibrant red hair, which sat in curls kept in a short style. Her wrists and fingers were adorned in gold-colored costume jewelry, making the woman look more like a gypsy. Surprisingly, it didn’t look like a Halloween costume on her like it might on someone else. The forest green shawl, held around her shoulders, complemented the long brown dress that flowed in the breeze she created as the woman nearly flew towards Paige.
“Pagan! Oh, my Pagan. I knew you would come home,” she beamed as she threw her arms around Paige.
“But…who…”
“Oh, dear, I’m sorry. I’ve waited for you for eighteen years, but you probably didn’t know to look for me until recently. You can call me gran,” she beamed.
“Gran?”
The woman nodded emphatically with a broad smile.
“My gran? Like my Grandmother? You’re alive?”
“Yes. Oh, Pagan. I’m so happy. Now you know.”
“Know what?”
“Everything.”
“But I don’t know anything.”
“You have your powers back, don’t you?”
“Yes, but I only just found out.”
Gran’s face faltered. “Where have you been this whole time? Your mother said you were safe, but that is all she would tell me.”
“I was raised in Washington. I just found out I’m adopted.”
“But, your powers?”
“I still don’t fully understand it all. Everything is happening so fast.”
“That’s how life is, love.”
“Well, what do I…?”
“Where’s David?”
“Who?”
“Never mind, there’s no time, love.” A stricken look had taken over her face. “They’ll be looking for you now.”
“Looking for me?”
“We need to hurry.” Gran gripped Paige’s hands fiercely.
“But who is looking for me?”
“Just listen. I can only protect you if you get here. You must get on the next Greyhound. And do hurry, darling.”
“Where is here?”
“Boston.”
∞
When Paige woke, the clock on the side table was her only proof of the time. It was seven-thirty, and Paige had overslept. The wingback chair was empty, which Paige decided was for the best. She couldn't face Gio right now. If she had, leaving would be that much harder.
Paige didn’t want to go, not really, but something or someone was pulling for her too. If it had anything to do with her dream, it might be her grandmother. Her real lifeblood-related grandmother. The only link she had to her birth mother and what should have been her life.
Granted, that could have just been a figment of her imagination, a longing for a purpose and company after she had lost everything. Paige was going at this alone, so she guessed it wasn’t much of a stretch for her mind to try and comfort her this way.
However, if, on the off chance, it wasn’t her imagination, she very well could be traveling to her death. What had her, possibly fictitious, grandmother said? They would be looking for her.
Paige didn’t know who “they” were supposed to be, but the memory of the warning in the woman’s voice didn’t inspire comfort. If Paige didn’t make it to Boston, no one would know.
Paige wasn’t sure how she would find her grandmother when she got there, but at least she had a destination, which is more than she before falling asleep.
With newfound purpose, Paige got out of bed and ran to her backpack. When she opened it, she was happy to see all of the essentials needed. Bless Gio for remembering it all. Paige threw on a pair of jeans, black UGG boots, and a dark red tank top. Her grey fleece wrap was lying on the back of the armchair.
It was warm, covering her bare shoulders. Paige didn’t have a hair straightener, but she also didn’t have time to straighten it anyways. Paige had to get moving. She found a hair tie in her pocket and threw the curly flame-colored hair up into a sloppy bun.
With everything packed back up, Paige slung the backpack over one shoulder and left the safety of Gio’s room. Once again, she sent a silent blessing out for Gio. He thought of everything.
Paige still wasn’t sure where Gio was, so she tried to move as quickly and quietly as possible through the halls. Paige also didn’t have any desire to run into Father McCallan, or anyone else in the parish she hadn’t met yet. Explaining why she was coming from Gio’s room was not on her to-do list today.
Paige could see the door leading outside now that she stepped out into the front lobby. She looked around and saw no sign of anyone being awake. With keys in hand, Paige quickened her pace down the aisle.
She was almost out.
When Paige reached for the doorknob, a hand grabbed her shoulder. Her breath caught in her throat as she turned around, ready to freeze whoever had snuck up on her.
“Whoa!” Gio exclaimed as he grabbed her wrists and held them down. “You need to work on controlling that.”
Paige let out a sigh of relief. “Where did you come from?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Startle implies slightly catching someone off guard. You scared me half to death.”
“I think that’s a silly reference. It implies you almost had a heart attack, which I’m certain isn’t the case.” He smiled, which caused that funny warmth inside of her. Paige hated it. It made what was coming so tricky.
“Yeah, well, if you could feel my heart beating out of my chest, you might reconsider that notion. I think a heart attack is completely feasible at this point.”
Gio kept smiling, but now it was more reflective than thinking their banter funny. “I can hear it.”
“Hear what?”
“Your heartbeat.”
“You can?”
He nodded. “You’ll be fine. No heart attack, I promise.”
Paige took a moment to think about that. He could hear her heartbeat with his supersonic demon hearing. That meant he has always understood it. Every time her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, he heard it. Paige now figured she never had any real chance of sneaking out of here.
“Where are you off to?”
“School.”
“Really?”
Paige’s heart started beating nervously with the lies. She didn’t like lying, and she certainly felt awful for lying to Gio, mainly because it was Gio. Paige felt like she owed him so much more. But she knew Gio would follow if she told him what she was doing, and she couldn’t have that. She couldn’t let him risk his life. Gio had kept her safe this long; now, it was up to her.
The fact that he could hear her heartbeat didn’t inspire confidence in her lying skills, making her beats all the more erratic. Paige knew he would notice, and when his brow creased, she felt her feet go numb. She was frozen under his scrutiny. Her knees were going weak.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” The word came out shaky. Come on, Paige! Get it together, she scolded herself. You can do this! “I’m just still a little shaky from your appearing act.”
“Sorry.”
“How did you do that?”
“When I went to the room, you were gone, so I just listened.”
“For my heart?”
“Yes.”
“What does it sound like?”
“Like a drum. It changes a little when you’re worried or when you’re happy. Even when you’re bored.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“So you can distinguish my heart from others?”
“Yes. Everyone’s heart is slightly different.”
“How?”
“Well, that part is hard to explain.” Gio thought it over for a moment and then said, “It’s like how people walk. After being around someone long enough, you can tell their steps from others. Sometimes you get two people who initially sound similar. Still, if you have sharp enough hearing, you can pick up subtle differences.”
“Huh. Weird.”
“So, you’re going to school?”
Paige nodded. “You’re right, my parents might not tell anyone, and I should try to act normal for as long as possible to avoid raising suspicion.”
“But you’re still worried?”
“A little, but it’s more than that. Eventually, people will notice that my parents aren’t talking to me and that I’m not going home. I’m not even sure where I’m going to stay tonight.” It wasn’t entirely a lie.
“You’ll come back here,” Gio said as if it were undeniable.
After a moment, Paige supposed it was. If, when, she got back from wherever she was going, then to come back here, to Gio, was the only place for her. A smile formed on her lips even though she didn’t feel much like smiling.
“Yeah. Yes,” Paige corrected. “I’ll come back here.”
Gio smiled too. “Good. Have a good day.”
Without realizing what she was doing, Paige leaped forward, throwing her body into his. Gio hadn’t expected her to do that, but when her arms wrapped around his neck Gio’s arms instinctively found their way around her body. Her body felt small and fragile in his arms. She could tell he was trying to hold her tight but relaxed at the same time, so he didn’t crush her insides. Paige hadn’t noticed before how much control he had to use to keep the monster in him at bay.
She didn’t want to walk away from Gio, but doing this alone seemed inevitable. Paige took a deep breath, inhaling as much of his leather scent as she could. Like his laugh, she wanted to hold on to as much of it as possible.
Granted, she was aware that no memory created would be as good as the real thing, but she had to try.
“Thanks, Gio. For everything.”
“Paige,” he sighed.
Those were the only words spoken. Paige couldn’t bear any more. As it was, she was on the verge of staying right where she stood, content to have him hold her for the rest of eternity.
Quickly, Paige kissed his cheek and turned for the door, refusing to look back.
Paige hopped into her CR-V and threw it into drive just as soon as she turned the ignition over. She didn’t want to know if Gio was standing there staring after her. It wouldn’t help to know one way or the other. If she knew he was staring, it might make it worse.
Instead, Paige zoomed across the street into the student parking lot. She had told Gio she was going to school, so she had to make a good show of it.
Paige pulled into the school’s parking lot but tried to stay in the back so that no one would notice her. If she didn’t show up at all, some might figure she got sick or overslept, but either way, they wouldn’t be able to check on her until after school, which would give Paige a head start.
On the other hand, if she were spotted in the parking lot but not in class, it might make faculty suspicious enough to alert someone to check on her sooner, which couldn’t happen. Not yet.
Anxiously, Paige watched all of her friends enter the school from a crouched position in the front seat of her car. As the first tardy bell rang, Paige headed for Seattle.
50
Paige-
Once in Seattle, Paige stopped at the bank first. After all, she couldn’t go anywhere without money. There were two key things to know when not wanting to be found. Bank cards were too easy to trace. Cash was hard to follow. She learned that much from watching her favorite TV show, Without a Trace.
It was bad enough they would eventually find the car, and of course, the bus station would have cameras. Her only hope was that since she was eighteen, the cops were most likely not going to follow her no matter how hard her parents or friends pushed. Although, she wondered if they even would.
Maybe they would figure she had run away and would leave her to her demise.
The bank initially tried to resist when Paige told them she wanted to withdraw and close her account. She wasn’t sure if it looked suspicious or if they didn’t want to lose nearly eight thousand dollars. Probably both.
Either way, it didn’t matter. She was eighteen, and it didn’t exceed the in-bank withdrawal limitations. Plus, no matter what, they can’t stop you from closing your account, no matter how suspicious it looks.
Reluctantly, the banker helped Paige put the money in her now empty backpack and bid her farewell.
Soundtrack
Misguided Ghosts - Paramore
Grow Up - Paramore
Vermillion - Slipknot
Streamline - System of a Down
Behind Blue Eyes - Limp Bizkit
Control - Puddle of Mud
You Should Be Sad - Halsey
Eleanor Rigby - The Beetles
Trampoline - Shaed
About The Author
KC Donovan
KC Donovan has been writing since she first learned to hold a pencil and continues that writing today.
Demon Keeper
The Demon, the Witch and the Priest
Book 1
Disillusioned Illusion
Book 2 - Releasing June 22, 2021
Convuluted Reasoning
Book 3 - Releasing September 22, 2021
End of the Line
Book 4 - Releasing December 22, 2021
KC Donovan, The Demon, the Witch, and the Priest
