Hedge Witch Diaries Complete Series Boxed Set, page 17
“Your brother is sweet. Why do you question my motives, Briar? Couldn’t all this be a fortuitous coincidence?”
I rolled my eyes. “I highly doubt that. You happen to stumble upon our town and happen to start dating my brother? I don’t believe in coincidences, Sydney. What do you want from us?”
Sydney’s face twisted into a smirk. “So little faith. It’s a shame. Something bad must’ve happened to you when you were young to be so…broken.”
I clenched my fists. She was referring to my parents’ death. I knew it. It was all I could do to prevent my fist from making contact with Sydney’s jaw.
“You clearly aren’t going to tell me the truth,” I snapped. “So watch your back.”
“Likewise.” Sydney chuckled. “I have a little advice.”
I rolled my eyes. “What kind of advice is that?”
“Don’t fuck with the Morai. Gareth gets what he wants. Always. And so do I.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The scent of Donna’s homemade apple pie still clung to my clothes as Dorian and I walked out of my foster parents’ house. My heart throbbed with anger, and I felt the spirits of the animal world stir in response to my emotions. They knew when something was off, and right now, it was Sydney. The Morai witch who had somehow ensnared my brother.
“Can you believe her?” I spat out, kicking a pebble across the driveway. “I don’t trust her, Dorian. Not one bit.”
Dorian’s eyes were hooded as he glanced at me, his face inscrutable as always. He exhaled slowly before speaking. “I agree, but until we know what her intentions are, we must be cautious. I suspect Gareth is behind it all.”
“Good.” I clenched my fists. “Because if she hurts Aiden, I swear, I’ll—”
“Rip her apart?” Dorian offered, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice. “Consider this. What if she genuinely likes Aiden?”
I frowned, my chest tightening with confusion and frustration. How could he even suggest that? “Seriously? She’s a smart girl. A college girl studying law. Aiden is…well, he’s Aiden. Handsome, I suppose, but not exactly the kind of guy you’d think a girl with something going on between her ears would take much interest in.”
“You’re probably right. Still, what do you want to do?”
“We warn Aiden about her,” I decided as I climbed into my truck.
“And tell him what?” Dorian asked. “He’s clearly infatuated. Anything you try to tell him will fall on deaf ears.”
I sighed. “You’re probably right. Shouldn’t I at least try, though?”
“So long as your brother is safe, and we have no reason to believe he isn’t, it might be better to see how this plays out. Eventually, Sydney will show her hand. Or, Gareth’s hand as the case might be.”
“What could the Morai possibly want with my brother of all people?”
“To mess with your head,” Dorian replied. “For his many flaws, Gareth is a master manipulator. I can’t say what he’s trying to do with this, but it certainly sends a message.”
“What kind of message?” I asked. “That Gareth is a dick?”
“Well, there’s that. But also, no one is beyond his reach. It’s not a threat. Not yet, at least. But he may simply want you to know that no one around you is safe if you don’t eventually give in to what he wants.”
“To marry him?” I shook my head.
“At the least, to disassociate yourself from me. He’s already made his wishes in that matter clear.”
“Ugh.” I sighed heavily, feeling the weight of the situation settle on me like a wet blanket. “Well, apart from that, at least my foster parents seemed to like you.”
Dorian released a small chuckle. “I suppose it’s worth relishing in the small victories, isn’t it?” His eyes sparkled with amusement, but concern lingered beneath.
“Definitely,” I replied, forcing a smile. As we drove along the winding road, my gaze wandered to the tree line, and my thoughts drifted back to Aiden and Sydney. What was her true purpose in all this? And what would Gareth’s next move be?
My thoughts were interrupted when I noticed a pillar of smoke rising from the forest. My heart raced. “Dorian, is that close to your sanctuary?”
He squinted at the sight, his face turning pale. He nodded slowly. “Yes, it’s not far.” Before I could respond or even process what was happening, Dorian teleported himself out of the truck, leaving me alone with a sharp gust of wind whipping through the open windows.
“Damn it, Dorian!” I cursed under my breath, gripping the steering wheel tightly. There was no time to lose. I floored the gas pedal, my truck roaring as it raced toward the source of the smoke. While I couldn’t teleport like Dorian, I knew I had to get there as quickly as possible. Whatever was happening, it couldn’t be good.
I pulled my truck into the parking lot of Charlie’s Lakefront Bar and Grill and parked between two other trucks. As I stepped out, my heart raced with worry, but I couldn’t let that slow me down.
“Roy, Smokey,” I called, summoning my spirit animal familiars. The spirit wolf appeared first, his form blue and translucent. Smokey followed, a duller hue of gray. He lumbered forward with heavy paws. Other familiar spirits joined us. A fox, an owl, and even a small rabbit, all eager to help.
“Something’s wrong at Dorian’s sanctuary,” I explained, my voice shaking with urgency. “I need to get there quickly.” They seemed to understand, their ethereal forms shimmering like moonlight through the trees as they gathered around me.
Something was different. The spirits around me seemed to invigorate me with energy. My feet moved ridiculously fast beneath me. I skipped over stray rocks and exposed roots as I followed the trail toward the sanctuary.
As we drew closer, we encountered several burning trees. The closer we got, the more the flames raged. I could smell the acrid scent of burning wood and feel the heat radiating on my skin.
But the spirits seemed to protect me. Or, perhaps, it was the forest charm Dorian gave me before. I continued to run faster than I thought possible.
I found Dorian standing at the edge of the lake, his arms raised as he murmured incantations in a language I didn’t recognize. Before him, a typhoon swirled, pulling water from the depths of the lake and cascading it through the air toward the hungry flames.
“Is there anything I can do?” I shouted over the roar of the wind and water.
“Stay back!” he yelled in response, his eyes focused.
The spirits and I watched in awe as Dorian’s magic fought against the inferno. It wasn’t long before the last of the flames were extinguished, leaving behind only a thick cloud of steam and the pungent smell of smoke. The forest surrounding Dorian’s sanctuary was charred but still standing.
As the wind died down, I approached Dorian cautiously. Exhaustion lined his face, but the single tear that rolled down his cheek caught my attention. He turned to me, his eyes filled with sorrow as he spoke.
“Damn them.” Dorian shook his head. “The forest wails. I can feel their pain.”
As I touched Dorian’s hand, I sensed it too. The sadness, the sorrow of the wounded trees and burned plant life.
“I know,” I replied softly. “I feel it, too.”
As we stood there, the spirit animals surrounded us, offering their silent support and strength in the wake of the fire.
We made our way to his sanctuary, stepping over blackened branches and scorched earth. The air still held the tang of smoke, stinging my nostrils as I breathed in.
“Who could have done this?” I asked, surveying the damage.
Dorian’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowed. “I suspect the Morai are involved.”
“Could it be the locals who attacked us before?” I suggested. “Like Jim Bob or the Honeycuts?”
“They wouldn’t know where my sanctuary is unless someone from the Morai told them. Which is a possibility, perhaps.” Dorian’s voice was tense, anger simmering beneath the surface.
I was relieved to find the place mostly unscathed. Still, the destruction of the surrounding forest weighed heavily on us both. I placed a comforting hand on Dorian’s shoulder, feeling his muscles tighten beneath my touch.
“Come on,” I urged gently. “Let’s get you away from here for now. You can stay at my place for the night.”
The spirit animals gathered closer, their presence offering a semblance of peace amid the devastation. Roy nuzzled my hand while Smokey rumbled softly beside Dorian.
“Thank you,” he murmured, finally allowing some of the tension to leave his body. We walked away from the sanctuary, the spirits trailing behind us like a protective entourage.
As we made our way through the scorched landscape, Dorian suddenly stopped in his tracks. His gaze fixed on a stone near the edge of the sanctuary. A strange symbol was etched into its surface, partially obscured by soot and ash.
“Wait.” He knelt to brush away the debris. Shock and recognition filled his face. “This symbol…it’s part of the rituals conducted by the Réminians.”
“Then maybe Gareth was right,” I suggested, my mind racing. “The Réminians could have recruited the locals to help them. That would explain their sudden interest in us.”
Dorian nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. “It’s possible. But this could also be the work of the Morai, trying to make us think the Réminians are involved. We can’t rule out either possibility.”
“Damn,” I muttered, kicking at the ground in frustration. “So, what do we do now?”
Dorian stood. “We stay vigilant. It’s only a matter of time before they strike again.”
“All right.” I sighed, feeling the weight of uncertainty and danger closing in around us. “Let’s get out of here.”
Dorian paused, his gaze lingering on the ruined sanctuary. Then he nodded, and we moved back toward my truck, the companionship of my familiars offering a strange sense of solace despite the chaos.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I drove home with Dorian beside me. We didn’t say much. The pangs of the forest still echoed within me. If I felt it, Dorian certainly did. I pulled down the narrow dirt and gravel road that led to my trailer.
As we rounded the corner, the horrifying sight before us made my blood run cold.
A flaming cross stood tall in front of my home, its cruel flames licking the sky. And hanging from it was a burning armadillo, its small body charred and cracked. A hot tear rolled down my cheek at the desperate cries of the animal’s spirit running around the cross where its body hung. It was a red hue, an angry spirit. The kind Dorian said I should avoid. As we exited the truck, though, the armadillo’s spirit took off into the woods.
My hands curled into fists, nails biting into my palms as anger surged through me.
“Fuckin’ hell,” I whispered, my voice shaking with rage.
The words “Witch fuckers” were scrawled across the side of my trailer in crude, dripping red paint. Next to them, the same Réminian symbol we had seen in Dorian’s sanctuary after the fire in the forest glared back at us like a warning.
“Whoever did this is the same who set the fire in the forest,” Dorian commented. “I’m not sure anywhere is safe.”
I grunted. “Witch fucker. Jim Bob called me that before. He must be involved.”
“Certainly,” Dorian agreed. “He’s not alone, though. He’s working with someone. Either the Réminians or someone from the Morai who wants us to think it’s the Réminians.”
I stared at the gruesome scene, unable to look away. The burning armadillo’s spirit shrieked from somewhere behind me in the woods, its ethereal cries echoing in my ears. It wasn’t fair. It didn’t deserve this. None of us did.
“Those bastards,” I spat, glaring at the still-smoldering cross. “What kind of sick person does something like this?”
“Someone who doesn’t understand or fears what they can’t control,” Dorian remarked quietly.
“Or someone who understands exactly what they’re doing. Someone screwing with us. Trying to bait us into a fight. Well, I’ll tell you what, Dorian. They have it.”
“We cannot go after Jim Bob Anderson until we know more about who he’s working with. If they are trying to bait us, we mustn’t allow them to snare us with the hook behind the worm.”
“Well, I’m sick of this shit. Everywhere we go. It’s one damned thing after another!”
“Careful, Briar,” Dorian warned, scanning the area for any clues. “Letting anger cloud your judgment is dangerous.”
Before I could respond, I heard the familiar rumble of Aiden’s truck approaching. It skidded to a halt nearby, and Aiden jumped out, followed by Sydney. Both looked horrified as their eyes landed on the flaming cross and defaced trailer.
“Jesus Christ, Briar,” Aiden breathed, his face pale. “What the hell happened here?”
“Someone decided to send us a message, and they used a poor armadillo to do it,” I replied bitterly, my fists still clenched in fury.
Sydney surveyed the scene, her face stoic. I wasn’t sure if that meant she’d expected this or if she was as shocked as we were.
“Who did this?” Aiden asked, kicking at the flaming cross and nearly catching his pants on fire.
“Jim Bob Anderson or someone working with him,” Dorian replied, not taking his eyes off the scene. “We suspect he’s working with someone else, but we don’t know who yet.”
“Jim Bob?” Aiden muttered with disbelief etched on his face. “That ignorant son of a bitch. I’ll kill him!”
Sydney drew a deep breath and turned to Aiden. “Calm down. Don’t do something you might regret.”
“Sorry, Syd,” he apologized, rubbing his neck. “But this is… I can’t believe it.”
“Neither can we,” I admitted, feeling numb from the shock and anger. “We need to find out who’s behind this and why.”
“Agreed.” Dorian’s eyes narrowed as he continued to examine the area. “And we need to do it quickly. This is nothing compared to what they did to us before, but it’s closer to home. They’re sending a message.”
“Sydney,” I called, my voice suddenly cold and unwavering as I looked at her. “Do you have anything to do with this?”
“Me?” Sydney replied, taken aback by my accusation. Her eyes widened in shock, and she shook her head vehemently. “No, Briar, I swear! This is awful. I can’t believe someone would do something like this.”
“Then who? Who’s working with Jim Bob?” I demanded, my eyes searching hers for any hint of deceit.
“What the fuck, Briar?” Aiden yelled, shocked by my behavior. “She doesn’t even know Jim Bob! Why are you accusing her?”
“Because, Aiden,” I shot back, my anger flaring. “You don’t know the truth about your ‘girlfriend.’”
“Truth? What truth?” Aiden asked, confusion written all over his face.
“Never mind,” I sighed, realizing this wasn’t the time or place for that conversation. “We need to focus on finding out who’s responsible and why they’re targeting us.”
Aiden’s gaze fell on the graffiti again, and he furrowed his brow. “You know, I remember in school, they taught us that words ending in ‘s’ mean more than one. ‘Witch fuckers’ is plural.” He looked at me with a mix of confusion and defiance. “Briar, you might be one, but I sure as hell ain’t!”
“Wait,” Sydney whispered, her voice trembling as she stepped forward. Was she really going to tell the truth for once? “There’s something you need to know, Aiden.”
“Know? What do you—” Aiden started, but Sydney cut him off.
“Please, let me say this,” she pleaded, taking a deep breath. “I’m a witch, Aiden. I should have told you sooner.”
“Wh-what?” Aiden stammered, his face paling. He stared at Sydney as if he didn’t recognize her anymore. “You’re…you’re a witch?”
“Y-yes,” Sydney confirmed, her voice shaking with emotion.
Aiden’s shock quickly turned to anger as he stepped toward Sydney, pointing a finger in her face. But he seemed at a loss for words, unable to form a coherent sentence. Finally, he threw up his hands in frustration. “I can’t deal with this right now,” he muttered, his breathing labored. He stormed back to his truck, got in, and slammed the door.
“Wait, Aiden!” Sydney called, tears welling up in her eyes.
But it was too late. Aiden revved the engine, and the tires screeched against the gravel as he sped away, leaving Sydney behind with Dorian and me. The dust kicked up by his departure filled the air, stinging my eyes and clinging to the back of my throat.
“Damn it,” I muttered, watching Aiden’s truck disappear down the road. “This is all getting so messed up.”
I turned to Sydney. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, but she seemed ready to face my questions. “All right, then,” I stated, my voice firm. “Who’s behind this attack? And why are they targeting me?”
Sydney swallowed hard, her gaze never leaving mine. “The Morai have nothing to do with it. Do you finally believe the Réminians are behind the attacks? They’re the ones who’ve recruited the locals to do their dirty work.”
Dorian shook his head. “This is my fault. Whoever is responsible, it’s because I fought them off before. I put all of us in danger.”
“Perhaps you are their target,” Sydney suggested. “It would make sense, given your history with the Réminians.”
“Sydney.” Skepticism filled Dorian’s voice as he folded his arms. “What about Gareth? Is he involved in all this? Don’t even think about lying to me.”
Sydney hesitated before answering. “Gareth wants nothing more than to win Briar’s affection and separate her from you. But that doesn’t mean he’s not concerned about the Réminians. He’s worried, like we are. We need to put our differences aside and work together to stop them.”
“What about my brother?” I asked. “Don’t tell me it’s his hillbilly charm.”
“I confess, Gareth asked me to get close to him so I could learn more about you. But that’s only how it started. Aiden is sweet. Simple, sure, but he has a good heart. It’s not about Gareth anymore. I really like him. You have to believe me.”
