Demon Within, page 11
part #2 of Book of Shadows Series
“We didn’t want to advertise it. Mom and Marsha didn’t know if my dad would try to trace the money. Besides, Marsha and I were both quiet, down-to-earth people who liked living in a small, comfortable way.”
“Wow!” Sean added, shaking his head slightly. It was several moments before he spoke again. “Vance, you’re already like a son to me. It’s been hard to watch you go through the trials you’ve had lately. That being said, though, Portia is my flesh and blood. Our flesh and blood,” he amended, taking Stacey’s hand. “We want the best for her. I know Portia wants you, and I know the two of you are linked in a special way that’s been pretty much unheard of before now. I understand you’re older too, and in a place where you have more interest in moving on with your life.” Eyes never leaving me, I could tell he was scrutinizing me closely while he considered his next words. I waited, not wanting to interrupt. “I guess I’m saying if things work out okay, then Portia’s mom and I will consider your request to marry her early. I don’t promise anything, but with the way you’re together now, I don’t believe getting engaged isn’t going to hurt anything.”
Massive relief flooded me, along with a hefty dose of exuberance. “Thank you, sir!” I couldn’t help the smile. I was wicked happy right now. I looked at Portia, and she was smiling too.
“I do have a couple of stipulations, though,” Sean continued, and just like that, I snapped back to feeling trepidation.
“What’s that?” I leaned forward, giving him my full attention.
“I don’t want to let Portia get married before her senior year, and I’d like her to be seventeen first before any real discussion of marriage happens. She’ll have her birthday just a few weeks after school starts. And second, if I see you’re going to be a threat to her in any way, I’ll call this whole thing off. Binding spell or not, it’s her safety first.” Sean repeatedly clenched his fist as he spoke. I didn’t doubt the threat.
“I understand. Portia’s safety should always come first, Sean.” I glanced in her direction.
“Do you understand, Portia?” Stacey said, and I still got the impression she wasn’t too thrilled with any of this.
Portia nodded, glancing between both of them.
“Very well, then,” Sean consented. “The two of you have our permission to officially announce your engagement to the coven if you’d like.”
“Really?” There was a slight squeak in Portia’s voice that belied her excitement.
“Really,” Sean answered and Portia ran over, throwing her arms around his neck.
“Thank you, Dad,” she said, before turning and hugging her mom tightly too.
“Welcome to the family, son,” Sean said, offering me his hand. This combined with the gift he’d given me earlier meant the world to me.
“Thank you, sir,” I replied, taking his offered hand.
Sean nodded in the direction of the condo. “Might as well break the news to everyone else.”
I honestly couldn’t believe my luck, as Portia took my hand, leading me inside. I had to be the happiest man alive.
The four of us went inside, and Stacey went to the kitchen counter, picked up a glass, and began tapping it with a spoon.
“Could I have your attention?” Stacy said loudly, and all eyes turned to where we stood.
“Vance has something he wants to tell you,” she said, gesturing to me.
Smiling, I glanced at Portia, lifting the back of her hand to my lips and kissing the ring there. It was a dead giveaway, but I didn’t care. “I’ve asked Portia to marry me, and she’s consented.” I couldn’t stop staring at her as I spoke. “Yes, we know this is early, and we aren’t really sure when a wedding might happen. But for now, at least, we’re officially engaged.”
Cheers filled the air, and we were immediately swarmed by everyone, the men clapping me on the back, and the women all going crazy over the ring as they hugged and loved on Portia, who was clearly delighted. Some people started clapping, and others let out a happy cheer. Well-wishers immediately surrounded us, giving hugs and kisses.
“You’re my fiancée,” she whispered after people backed away. Dragging her against me, I kissed her, lingering in her arms. Everyone applauded, and we were both blushing a bit when we broke apart.
I didn’t care. This was the best day of my life.
13
“This has been my favorite Christmas ever!” Portia said, kicking sand as we walked down the beach with Brad and Shelly, the sun low on the horizon.
“Why is that?” I asked, giving her hand an affectionate squeeze.
“Because I got you for Christmas.” Her wide smile and twinkling eyes made my heart beat erratically.
“Well, I hope I’m a gift you won’t ever want to return.” I wanted to make all her dreams come true and to be worthy of her love.
“Not a chance!” She grabbed me around the neck and kissed me suddenly, taking me by surprise, but I was so into it. Lifting her, I spun her around, never breaking the kiss as joy flooded between us. I wasn’t sure where her emotions ended and mine began, but I couldn’t get enough.
“Get a room!” Brad complained with a laugh.
“No kidding! It’s like being stuck in a romance novel or something.” Shelly added.
“Sorry,” Portia apologized, as I set her back on her feet. I was positive neither of us was sorry, but it felt rude to keep flaunting our happiness in front of them. I didn’t mean to be so caught up, I just couldn’t help the elated feelings I’d been having all day. Things had gone much better than I’d hoped for with Portia’s parents.
I glanced over my shoulder, toward the Sonoran Sea Resort. We were several hotels down from it. “We’ve been walking the beach for a while now. I’m sure we could head back to the condo if you’d like.”
“What do you think they’re talking about?” Shelly asked.
“I have no idea,” Portia replied, and I echoed her thoughts. It had was out of character for them to ask us to leave. Usually, when planning something, it required the input of all the members, and more often than not, decisions usually regarded something to do with me lately. Plus, they were all here because of my dad, so why would they want us to take a walk?
“Let’s go find out then.” Brad immediately reversed direction, striding back to the residence, anxious to find out what was happening. We found everyone in the exact same place we’d left them, but they all glanced toward us simultaneously.
Sean waved for us to join them with a friendly smile. That was a good sign. “Come on in, kids! We have some things to discuss with you.”
Portia led the way over to where her mom was at the end of the sectional, sitting on the floor beside her. I slid into the open space next to her, leaning back on my elbows and crossing my ankles comfortably.
“We have a proposition for you,” Milly spoke up, speaking directly to Brad and Shelly. My curiosity was definitely piqued. “We’ve discussed this with everyone except for Vance and Portia, but they’re free to give any comments on the matter also.”
“All right,” Brad said, glancing in my direction and I shrugged. I had no idea what she was talking about.
“We’d like to extend an official invitation for the two of you to join our coven,” Milly added.
What the heck? I shifted, sitting up. What was going on? How could they be added to the coven? They weren’t witches.
“But we aren’t witches . . . or warlocks,” Shelly said, almost mirroring my thoughts as she stared at Brad.
Milly continued. “You’ve been offering your services to help further the causes of this coven. By inducting you as official members, you’ll be under the protection of the coven’s powers. If we’re involved in some type of confrontation in the future, this will significantly enhance your chances of survival.
“Plus, there are a lot of things we can teach you that will give you some magical benefits. For instance, making healing medicines or even using some minor spells. You’d be able to keep your magical talismans and learn how to use their powers to strengthen yourselves in other areas. Basically, the power of the coven would supply you with magic, so to speak.”
Hmm. This was kind of a cool idea! I’d never considered non-magical people being added, but it made sense when looking at the bigger picture. I like the idea of the coven being able to better shield them too.
“You wouldn’t ever surpass the level of an apprentice witch or warlock, however,” Sean said, and I thought Shelly seemed a little disappointed. Brad, however, appeared enthralled with the idea, judging from his expression. “The safest thing would be for you to pack up and return home to your families. None of us would have a problem with that. Either way, we want to see that you’re kept safe.”
“What do you think?” Brad asked, turning to me as if I held all the answers.
“I think it’s a smart idea. I feel foolish for not having thought of it myself,” I replied, truthfully. “I agree with what Sean said though. Your safest bet would be to leave and return home.”
“What do you think, Portia?” Shelly asked.
“I agree with Vance. Separation is your safest bet. But at the same time, you’ve been attacked before, right under our noses. No one believed there was any kind of threat to you at that time and there was. Being part of the coven isn’t foolproof, but it would’ve protected you from being susceptible to what you went through before. Both of you are very close to the coven, and you know our secrets. Making you official members would not only protect each of you but the coven also.”
More silence followed, and for the slightest moment, it almost seemed as if Brad and Shelly were communicating through a mental connection too, the way they stared at each other.
“I accept,” Shelly spoke abruptly. Taking Brad’s hand, she continued to watch him, waiting.
“I’ll do it, too,” he finally replied, his voice strong and steady.
Sean smiled widely. “Wonderful! This will actually give us the equivalent of thirteen witches in the coven, even though we’ll actually be fourteen in number. It was a great misfortune to lose Marsha.”
The room went quiet, and several of the others cast glances in my direction. It hurt every time I heard her name. The wound was still too fresh, and I was positive it would never go away. Earlier today, I’d even looked for her after Sean and Stacey had given us their blessing. She was the first one I wanted to share the news with.
Now she was gone, just like that, in the blink of an eye. She’d given up everything for me. I had hoped one day, once she didn’t have to worry about my care anymore, that she’d find love and settle down to live the rest of her life in happiness. I always imagined we’d find my mom and all of us would be a family, somehow. Now it was all gone, my life and future with both of them slipping through my grasp.
“I propose we dedicate the rest of this evening to Marsha’s memory and induct Brad and Shelly into the coven tonight,” Portia suggested, obviously picking up on my melancholy. She patted me on the knee. “You okay?” her words echoed into my mind, and I nodded, smiling weakly.
“That sounds like a perfect idea!” Sean agreed. “Do we have all the magical items we need to do that, Mom?”
“Yes, we do.” Milly rose from the dining chair and started toward the front hallway. “I brought everything I thought we might possibly need.”
“Let’s take a quick break so people can get their ceremonial robes. Everyone meet back here in thirty minutes, and we’ll continue.”
Stacey started speaking to Portia, so I got up and went to my room, taking my robe and cowl from the bottom of my suitcase. I hadn’t unpacked it since I was used to being ready to leave in a hurry. Old habits died hard.
Sitting on the foot of the bed, I stared at the silky fabric, remembering the last time I’d worn it when Marsha was still alive. It was hard to know I’d never see her again. Having her death happen while I was prisoner made it so unreal. I couldn’t count the times I’d reminded myself to ask her about something or wanted to tell her about my day. She was simply gone. Her loss ate at me from the inside out.
“Hey, hottie.” I glanced up, finding Portia in her robe. With her dark eyes and black hair she looked every inch the powerful witch she was—mysterious and beautiful.
“Hey, yourself,” I said, with a weak grin. “What do you think of all this?”
“It’s pretty cool.” She walked inside and sat on the bed. “I’m more concerned about you though. You’re feeling bad. It worries me.” She placed a hand on my knee.
I shook my head dejectedly, slipping my fingers over the tops of hers and grasping them for support. “I’m really missing Marsha today.” I chuckled wryly. “I want to see her face as I tell her about the engagement.”
“She’d probably faint,” Portia said with a laugh, and I nodded in agreement.
“You’re right, and then she would’ve squealed like a teenage girl.” I glanced at Portia. “She loved you, you know?”
Portia nodded. “I know. She was a wonderful woman. I wish I could’ve spent more time with her.”
“Me too. I used to have all these thoughts and dreams of things she and I would experience together. Now there’s no chance for those. I’m excited for Brad and Shelly, but hate that they get this chance because she’s gone. I also hate that she’s gone because of me.”
“If something had happened to you and she lived, she’d have felt like a complete failure. She gave her word to protect you until her last breath. She honored her vow and did exactly that.”
“I wasn’t worth it,” I replied. “Look at me. I’m half man, half monster. She died, and I was still ruined and almost took you with me.”
“You aren’t ruined. You’ve got to stop thinking of yourself like that. You were saved from something horrific. If they’d succeeded and we hadn’t found you, all of us might be dead now. This thing is an infection, something that happened to you. It is not you, just something about you. You’ve got to stop defining yourself in absolutes. You deserve so much more.”
“So did Marsha. She was a stranger, Portia. She gave up everything to help some kid she didn’t know, giving years of her life!”
“Call her what she was, Vance,” Portia stared deep into my eyes. “She was your mom. I know you’ve loved and missed your real mom during your separation, but Marsha was your mom too. She loved you like her own son. You were the only kid she ever had. It’s okay to miss her with the love of a child to his mother. She was the only parent you had for years.”
I snorted. “And I was a terrible teenager, always wanting to run off with my friends. I hated carrying that dang phone everywhere so she could reach me all the time. Even now, I hardly use the damn thing.”
Portia laughed. “You acted like any other kid in the world, rebelling against restrictions. I know you feel you were overly reckless, but you weren’t. We’ve all felt that way at some time or another. All that matters now is what’s left inside your heart when you think of her. I’m sure, wherever she is, she feels that love radiating from inside you. You’re a good person, Vance.”
“You always sound so wise,” I replied, releasing her hand and slipping my arm around her shoulders. I placed a kiss against the side of her head. “I’m so lucky to have you. I just wanted to share that with her.”
“So do it. Right now. I’m sure Dad and Grandma will be happy to give you some time during the ritual. Tell the rest of us about her, and tell her how you feel. If ever there was a time for her to hear you, it would be now as her place is handed over to others. Maybe it will help you through some of your grief.”
Removing my arm briefly, I glanced down Portia’s back. She stared at me confused. “What are you doing?”
“Looking for wings. You’ve got to be my angel, not a witch.”
Portia laughed, elbowing me in the side. “Stop it! I’m no angel.” She pressed her lips against my mouth. “I’m just a very good witch.”
“How good?” I arched a brow wickedly, many non-angelic thoughts filling my mind.
She rolled her eyes. “Yep. You’re gonna be just fine. I swear you’re a walking hormone. Come on.” Rising, she headed for the door.
I chuckled. “You love it. Admit it.”
“A good witch would never do such a thing,” she replied, pausing to smile at me.
I grabbed her and kissed her again. “Maybe you aren’t so good after all?” I teased.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she countered, pushing me away and going into the hall, and I laughed.
“Yeah, I would. More than anything,” I muttered to myself.
14
“God help me,” I groaned, managing to lift my head just enough to note the time. Six AM. This had been going on for an hour now, and I didn’t feel any closer to the end of this torment. I’d long quit trying to fight the violent shaking, my body feeling as if every molecule was trying to tear itself in two.
One glance into Portia’s eyes, mirroring my own terror, and I couldn’t bear to look at her anymore. I knew she was crying because I could feel her emotions flooding through me. I couldn’t even lift the mental barrier between us. She was experiencing everything I was.
Gone was the tight family circle of last night during Brad and Shelly’s induction. Now the whole coven was here, standing around my bed after Portia had raised the alarm, my intense agony waking her up. The combined power of the coven wasn’t helping in any shape or form that I could tell, as Milly shook burning sage up and down my body, continually repeating purification incantations. I felt like they were killing me, not helping. I couldn’t help the screams that escaped, sure at any moment hotel security would come bursting through the doors to see what horrific torture was happening. They must be using some kind of dampening spell.
“Ahhhhh! Please! Stop!” I shouted as spasms wracked me even harder. My bones felt as if they’d snap, the pain was so intense. Sweat rolled off me, soaking the sheets. It didn’t matter I was dressed only in shorts, the heat consumed me like no flame I’d ever known.
“He seems much worse while we’re performing these rituals,” Portia said, frustration and pity mixed in her tone.
