Awakened Read online

  She wanted to return and see if Max was okay, but terror filled her. What if they were angry? What if they were scared of her? What if she killed Max?

  ‘WILLOW.’ His voice came through again.

  It was too much. She needed to get out of here before Eli came to look for her. Right now she didn’t want to talk to him. She wanted answers and knew where she would get them.

  Retracing their steps from yesterday, she found the door that led to Cora’s room. Part of her was afraid it would be blocked or guarded, but just like last night, the stairwell was empty. She raced up the stairs. For a moment, she paused outside the door before she opened it without knocking.

  Light streamed in through the curtains and cut stripes of sunlight across the white bedding. Cora’s eyes popped open as the door creaked. She didn’t seem surprised to see her and watched her approach.

  “Tell me about my mother.” Her voice shook. She was certain whatever Cora hadn’t told her last night would explain what was going on with her now. “There’s something you’re not telling me. I hurt Max just now when a bolt of energy came flying out of my hand.” She held up her hand, wiggled her fingers and turned her hand this way and that way. “How was I able to do that? Why was I able to that? You said nothing about Oracles having those kinds of powers.”

  Cora patted the bed. “This is the first time they’ve manifested themselves, I take it?” The question seemed rhetorical since she didn’t wait for an answer, but continued talking. “I wondered if they would manifest.”

  “What? Tell me what’s happening to me.” Her voice was bordering on shrill, but she didn’t care. She wanted answers.

  “Sit child and stop shrieking. I’ll tell you.”

  Willow sat on the bed and held her tongue, afraid that if she said anything else, the woman might refuse to share.

  “Hyacinth’s visions and dreams became more prevalent a few years before she gave birth to you. Your mother knew she was different and that the things she saw weren’t just random and meant nothing. She was seeing the future.”

  “When she saw your future, she knew the only way you stood a fighting chance was to make sure you could protect yourself... so she started to research to see if there were others like her. In her search she found out that witches, vampires and such weren’t just make believe and fairytales. She infiltrated one of the supernatural hate groups to find out where she could find supernaturals, in particular faeries.” Cora looked at her to gauge whether she understood. When Willow said nothing, she continued. “She waited until she was ovulating and went to a bar, slept with one of them and nine months later you were born. That’s the story as she told it to me.”

  Slack jawed, Willow stared at Cora in shock. Her head was spinning. “My father’s also a supernatural? She never talked about him... I just assumed she didn’t want me to know him because he was a deadbeat... not this. Does he know about me?” It was hard to keep the hopefulness from her voice.

  “I’m afraid not. During their evening together she found out he was a spiritual faery, but she said any information she told him was a fabrication so he could never figure out who she was or learn of you.”

  She deflated at that news. “So I guess that means she didn’t get a last name.”

  Cora shook her head and grabbed her hand, a sympathetic look sat on her face. “You understand dear, that not only are you an Oracle, you’re part fae.”

  Yeah, she was still processing that part too. Even if she wanted to figure out who her father was, she couldn’t. She had no name, address, nothing. To him, it was just a drunken one-night stand. Her mother used him to get pregnant so she would be born with powers that would give her the ability to protect herself. He probably didn’t remember her mother and since no one ever showed up on his doorstep in the last twenty-six years telling him he had a kid, he was more than likely living his best life.

  “It’s fine.” She brushed it off and tried to appear unaffected. Opting instead to move onto a different round of questions. “Why faeries?” Willow wrinkled her nose in confusion. “Why not a witch or a shapeshifter? Don’t they have more strength or powers or abilities than a faery?”

  The old woman laughed a throaty laugh. “Child, you have much to learn.”

  Cora’s knobby fingers patted her knee. “Your mother wanted to give you the best chance at survival. Being part fae gives you tremendous power. She knew you would go up against Killian and wanted you to rely on yourself.”

  “How did she find the coven? How did she get here?” Her brain and emotions still felt like they were spinning in a million different directions as she tried to wrap her mind around it all.

  “She dreamed about it. In the dream she saw the face of the person who would lead her here. It was one of the Protectors. It didn’t take her long to find him because she recognized the man as someone she bought her newspaper from every day.”

  Just like hers, her mother’s Protectors had been hiding in plain sight, masquerading as friends, baristas and co-workers. “They don’t interfere. It’s part of the oath they take, but since your mother had full awareness of being the Oracle that went out the window.” Cora coughed. “Water please.” She wheezed out.

  In her haste to get it, water sloshed over the edge of the pitcher when she grabbed it. After helping Cora take a few sips, the woman cleared her throat and reached over to her nightstand. A minute of fumbling around in the drawer produced whatever she was looking for. “She left this for you.” Her knobby fingers deposited a videotape onto Willow’s lap.

  She picked it up and stared at it confused. “What am I supposed to do with this? It’s a videotape. No one owns a VCR anymore.”

  Cora rolled her eyes, and the gesture made her appear fifty years younger.

  “Dear, you’re in a coven full of witches, someone should be able to rustle one up for you or locate one with a location spell. Plus, we collect things. I’m sure there’s one in the attic or the cellar. Just have Eli get it for you.” She yawned.

  Willow knew their conversation was ending.

  “Also, make sure he takes you to the library and gets books on faeries so you can understand the other half of your make-up.” A bigger yawn followed. “Okay, now off with you dear. I’m tired.” And just like that the old woman fell asleep before she could leave the room. Her snores followed her out the door.

  When she turned, she found Eli waiting on the bench for her. He was still dressed in his sweats. “I thought I’d find you here.” He stood and approached her.

  “Is... is he okay?” Fear gripped her heart in its icy fingers. If she injured Max, she would never forgive herself.

  “He’s fine. Just a little dazed when he woke up, but he’s okay.”

  The relief she felt was overwhelming. A breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding whooshed out of her body. She’d felt weighted down ever since she fled. Learning he would be okay made her lighter, like a balloon full of helium tethered to a piece of ribbon. She walked over and collapsed onto the bench he’d just left and dropped the tape on her lap. “That’s good.” She mumbled as she placed her head in her hands. Gratitude washed over her. The last thing she wanted was to worry about Max being hurt because of her. The roiling mass of thoughts that clogged her brain lessened.

  “Is he mad at me? Is Phaedra?” She said through her fingers.

  “No one is upset with you. Everyone knows it was an accident.” He sat next to her. “Are you okay?”

  She lifted her head and looked at him for several seconds before she shook it. “No.”

  “Want to talk about it?”

  Their eyes stayed locked on one another. She shook her head again. It felt like she was unraveling. He was being so patient and understanding. “There is something you could help me with.” She held up the videotape. “You wouldn’t happen to have a VCR would you?”

  “Let me just check my back pocket.” He joked and pretended to reach for his pant’s pocket.

  Any other time she would have t
eased him for making a corny joke. Right now it coaxed a smile out of her and for that she was grateful.

  He stood up and reached out his hand. “Come on. I think I can conjure us up a VCR.” He smiled at her.

  She returned his smiled and accepted his hand.

  Back in the sitting room adjoining her bedroom, the flat screen TV Eli conjured looked out of place among the 18th century furnishings.

  When he snapped his fingers and said the word, ‘Appareo,’ a cracking noise sounded right before the TV appeared. It impressed her.

  “Did you just create that out of thin air?”

  “No, when conjuring I have to know the object exists. It’s easy with inanimate objects. It takes a lot of energy to conjure a person.” He glanced at the television. “This TV came from my room. I thought about what I wanted and said the magic word. No pun intended. Let me see if I can recall where I saw a VCR. I believe there’s one in Archie’s room. Appareo.” He snapped his fingers again, and the VCR appeared on the coffee table. Dust clung to the ancient electronic device.

  “I’m not sure I remember how to operate one of these.” It was heavier than she remembered she thought as she lifted the device to eye level to peer at it.

  “Why don’t I give you some privacy?” He got up to leave.

  “Please don’t go.” She sat the VCR back down and stood.

  He put his hands in his pockets and turned to her.

  “My mother is on that tape and I don’t think I want to watch it alone... please stay.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She laughed nervously. “No.”

  He walked back and picked up the VCR. “Let’s get this thing working.” Eli’s modern TV didn’t have the proper connection needed for the older device so he pilfered the ancient TV that also belonged to Archie. With focus and concentration they had the older TV and VCR connected in ten minutes. She pushed in the videotape and took a seat beside him on the couch. His thigh brushed hers, but instead of the anxious stirrings of romance in her gut, she felt apprehension over what they would find on this tape.

  Black-and-white striped vertical lines covered the screen. A few seconds later the picture kicked in and there on the screen was her mother.

  “Mom.” She scooted forward on the sofa and tried to swallow the lump of emotions that threatened to choke her. Unshed tears blinded her for a moment, but she blinked them away. Overwrought nerves made her grip the edge of the seat.

  Her mother wore her long, natural curls loose and free. They rested just past her shoulders. A black, leather jacket covered her shoulders, which made her smile. It was the jacket she wore the day she left with the Protectors. It was one of the few possessions she had left that belonged to her mother. She refused to let them take it from her when she was sent to live in foster care.

  “Is it on?” Her mother asked someone off-camera.

  “Yes.”

  Her mom looked straight into the camera and smiled. “My sweet girl, if you’re watching this it means...” Her smile faltered. “I was right and... and I’m dead.”

  Her breath hitched in her throat at her mother’s statement. Even despite it being seventeen years since her mother died, it hurt to hear her say those words.

  “I’m sorry I missed seeing you grow up. I’m sure you were strong and brave even without me, because that’s what I taught you to be.”

  A single tear streamed down Willow’s face and she swiped it away.

  “There are things I need to tell you. A bad man named Killian will enter your dreams because he’s trying to find you.” Her mom moved closer to the screen like they were having a personal conversation. “Baby, I don’t want you to be afraid. He’ll be scary, but you’ll be able to defeat him. I made sure that you’re more than capable and powerful and you’ll have help from the coven.” She swallowed and looked at her lap. “I wish I had more time.” Her mother was on the verge of tears. “Don’t be frightened. I believe in you and I love you with all my heart.” The video cut out and the screen cut to black and white fuzzy snow again.

  They both just stared at the screen.

  “What did she mean by, ‘She made sure you were more than capable and powerful?’ Does that have anything to do with what happened today?”

  His eyes searched her face for answers. So much had changed in her life already, the last thing she wanted was for him to change towards her once she told him, but she couldn’t keep it a secret. Turning towards him, she met his gaze. There was a part of her that wanted to look away. Instead, she stared back unflinching. “I’m half fae.” Tension filled the air as she waited to see what he would say. His face was a blank mask before he spoke.

  “That explains a lot. How you could get in my head that day...” He looked at her hands, balled into fists on her lap. “It explains how you could shoot blasts of energy from your hands.” His eyes met her eyes again, and he smiled. “Looks like we have some new training to do.”

  His response allowed her to relax. She uncurled her fists and grinned back at him. A warm feeling curled around her like a blanket. She was glad she asked him to stay. They were sitting so close. If wishes became reality, he’d put his arms around her and hold her, but knew that wouldn’t happen. Anytime she attempted to get closer he backed off and got skittish. He just wasn’t into her. She wished she didn’t find him so damned attractive. Every time they were alone, or he looked at her like he was looking at her now, she wished he would kiss her. She pushed her disappointment aside. “Thanks for making all of this easier.”

  CHAPTER 20

  Eli

  Willow was half-fae. An Oracle had never mated with another supernatural before, only a human. After they watched the tape, she relayed the story her mother told Cora. Hyacinth wanted her daughter to be prepared for the battle ahead and had done the only thing she knew to help keep her safe. She’d armed her with more powers. The woman was cunning. He’d give her that.

  The others poured over spell books and mixed brews in their cauldrons. They’d be back on the road soon and everyone wanted to have potions ready for any further ambushes. He glanced at his watch again. The door opened, and he looked up.

  “Sorry, I got lost.” Willow stood in the doorway.

  “It’s okay.” He walked towards her.

  “We aren’t doing combat training today?” She glanced at her workout attire and then towards everyone working diligently.

  “Thought you and I could take a trip to the coven’s library and research...” He let his statement hang in the air.

  “Do they know?” She whispered to him, but her eyes darted to the others.

  “I figured you’d tell them when you’re ready, but I have to say the sooner you do the better.”

  They were interrupted when Max walked into the room behind them. At his arrival, her demeanor changed. “I guess today is as good a day as any.” She looked him in the eye. “I owe Max an apology for what happened.” She stepped away from him and raised her voice so she could be heard. “I have something I need to tell all of you.”

  The chopping, mixing and measuring stopped and everyone gave her their undivided attention. She pressed her fist into her palm and looked out at their expectant faces. “I learned yesterday that...” Her eyes found his, and he nodded to encourage her to continue. “I learned that I’m part faery.” She turned to Max. “That’s how I could shoot that blast of energy from my fist... I’m sorry I hurt you. I didn’t mean to.”

  Max’s face was unreadable as he approached her. It was noticeable Willow wanted to take a step back, but she stood her ground. He stopped in front of her and said nothing for several seconds before he broke into a huge grin and chuckled. “Of course I forgive you. I know it wasn’t intentional. You don’t spend seven years with someone and not know what kind of person they are. Come here.” He hugged. “So part faery huh?” He pulled back and looked at her. “So when do you grow wings?”

  Laughter sounded around the room as she playfully swatted him.

  “
That’s actually where I was going to take Willow this morning, to the library so we can do some research. I don’t think she’ll be sprouting wings anytime soon, Max.”

  “This is so cool. I haven’t gotten to meet any faeries before.” Mathilda’s girlish glee was infectious. The others wore bright smiles too.

  He knew the rest of them had had encounters with faeries. It was always a mixed bag when dealing with them. You never knew what kind you would get since there were so many varieties and species. Willow may never know exactly what kind of faery she was, but he would do everything in his power to help her learn her abilities. “We’ll join you guys for combat training later this evening.” He motioned for her to follow him out into the hallway. When he looked up, he didn’t miss the look that Phaedra was giving him. He averted his gaze. Yes, he would be alone with her, but it was so he could help her research and study, nothing more. Nothing would happen. He tried not to scowl once they left the room.

  “Thank you so much. Cora told me to ask you to help me so I appreciate that now it doesn’t feel like I’m burdening you since you suggested it first.” Her rambling made him glance at her. Was she nervous?

  “I would help you. It’s my duty.”

  Her footsteps faltered, and he turned to look at her. She gave him a lackluster smile before looking at the floor. Had he done something wrong? The thought plagued him on the way to the library.

  The room was crammed to the rafters with books. They spilled from shelves and some even sat piled on the floor. Rows of books filled the room with a few tables and chairs scattered about. A stooped over old woman came forward when they entered. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth when he saw her. The woman looked frail, but her grip was strong as she pulled him down for a hug.

  “This is Enid. Keeper of Books.”

  “Silly boy.” She chuckled and released him.

  Willow held out her hand, but the woman batted it away and hugged her.