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  As instructed, I closed my eyes, feeling his hands brush lightly across my body, starting at my head and working down my arms and legs, before centering them on my chest above my heart. “Dark deity, give him the vision of his desires,” he repeated over and over.

  My body relaxed and started to tingle. Everything felt foggy for a moment, but I didn’t struggle against it. Suddenly, a picture snapped in front of me, in perfectly sharp clarity.

  “We’re at the zoo!” I said in amazement, glancing around. “What happened? Did I fall asleep?”

  My dad chuckled. “I’m afraid so. The ritual must have relaxed you a little too much.”

  I was glad he wasn’t angry with me. Magic was very serious to him. “I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t mess anything up.”

  He ruffled his hand through my hair. “Not at all, kid. You were perfect.”

  “Look! It’s the lions! Let’s go there!” I said excitedly, running toward the fence that surrounded the giant cage. There was a deep ravine between the wall and where the lions lay resting. Disappointment flooded through me. I wanted to see them up close. “Why is this space here?” I asked, frowning.

  My dad chuckled. “So the lions can’t come bite your hand off when you poke it through the fence like that. Watch out for that sharp wire.”

  Jerking my hand away from the fence, I felt a pain slice through my arm. Blood shot from the wound and I cried out. “Dad! I cut myself!” Gripping my arm with my other hand, I grimaced heavily at the pain.

  “Don’t worry, son. I’ll take care of it.” He led me away from the lion’s pen around the corner to a more secluded area. Glancing around to make sure we were alone, he placed his hand on the bloody tear in my skin and softly whispered an incantation. The skin knit itself back together perfectly, as if nothing had happened. “Feel better?” he asked. I nodded.

  “Perfect. Let’s continue our day then, shall we?” He placed his hand on my shoulder and guided me back toward the park. “There’s a restroom over there,” he said, pointing. “Let’s get that blood washed off your arm.”

  The cool water felt good against my skin and I sighed, my vision fogging as I watched. The next thing I knew we were pulling into the driveway. “Did I fall asleep again?” I asked, perplexed.

  Dad laughed. “That’s what happens when you stay awake all hours of the day and night playing video games. You need to mind your mom and start going to bed on time. Did you have fun though?”

  Memories of all the animals we’d seen flitted through my head and I nodded. “It was a blast! I can’t wait to tell mom about it.”

  “Here, don’t forget your new gorilla t-shirt we bought.” He smiled as he held out a plastic bag to me.

  “Thanks, Dad.” Jumping from the car, I ran to find my mom.

  Slipping out of the memory, I let Milly’s voice fill my head once more as she told Portia how my mom depleted my trust fund and ran with me. My whole life changed in the moment when she told me all the memories I had with my dad weren’t real. They were illusions he’d created in my head so he could feed on me. He was drinking my blood to strengthen his own powers—one of the most harmful and evil things one witch could do to another.

  Gone was the father I had loved, his loving illusion firmly shattered in my mind, and in his place stood a crazed maniac.

  Milly glanced at me. “Vance is a very powerful warlock, Portia, and by drinking his blood, Damien increased his own strength. This exchange was beginning to link Vance to the dark arts as well. We’ve performed many blessings and purification rituals over him, attempting to remove the unwanted attraction; and it is very important to surround him with good energy. If bad energy were to overwhelm him, it could turn him in a less than desirable direction, giving him the craving to harm others.”

  “I’m sorry,” Portia whispered, sympathy filling her eyes. I didn’t reply, but squeezed her hand.

  The meeting was called to a close and Portia quietly followed me when I left the room. When we reached my motorcycle, I turned and leaned against it, staring at her.

  She seemed slightly nervous, glancing at the stars instead of maintaining eye contact with me.

  “So, how do you feel now you know I’m the coven’s big dark secret? That I’m the bad guy, so to speak?” I folded my arms, wanting to hear what she would say.

  She stared hard at me. “None of this is your fault.”

  “That isn’t the point,” I replied. “The fact is; I’m the dangerous one. I’m the person who could be turned and destroy everything good about you and your family.” Just putting a voice to my fears made me feel sick. I’d rather die than hurt any of these people. They’d become my family.

  She moved closer and placed both hands on the sides of my face, her gaze boring into mine. “I don’t believe you’d ever hurt me, or any of us, for that matter. The very fact you’re worried about us tells me the kind of character you have.”

  I couldn’t break eye contact with her. She was telling me the truth, the emotion emanating from her mirroring her words.

  She believed in me.

  Placing my hands on her cheeks, I held her there, admiring how beautiful she was, both inside and out. “I hope you’re right, Portia.” Leaning forward, I allowed my lips to slip softly across her forehead before releasing her. Straddling my motorcycle, I started the engine. “See you tomorrow.”

  She stepped away from the curb, giving me a small half smile and waved as I drove away. Even after I was out of her sight, I could still feel her standing on the sidewalk staring after me. Her heart was heavy, but hopeful. Despite all she had heard, she wanted me to be safe and happy.

  I fell in love with her even more.

  Chapter Nine

  Journal Entry:

  Using magic to stuff some attitude down the face of people who really deserve it may not always be the best course of action, but it sure feels good sometimes. Enough of that though, nothing—and I mean nothing—will destroy my mood today. I’ll never forget the way my lips felt pressed against hers, or the way my body instantly responded to the contact. It was one of the most powerful moments of my life, and there wasn’t an ounce of magic involved in it!

  ***

  All morning, fate had been working against me. Marsha needed me to help take her car to the shop, which made me late for school. Then, the counselor called me into his office and informed me I didn’t have enough physical education requirements to graduate, so my schedule got all shifted around. This meant I didn’t get a chance to see Portia before classes, so my mood was already a bit on the foul side as I made my way out to the baseball field for my new PE class. A bunch of guys were dressed in the required uniform and standing in front of the dugout, staring up the hill toward me. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but from the looks on their faces, I was fairly certain it wasn’t nice.

  The coach met me at the gate and I handed him my transfer paper. “Apparently I’m lacking PE requirements, so I was moved into your class,” I explained.

  “Do you have any workout clothes?” he asked, glancing at my attire with a slight frown.

  “Not here at the school. I can bring some in tomorrow, though.”

  “All right. We can work around that for today.” He faced in the direction of the waiting group. “Take the field, boys,” he shouted. “Brad, you and Vance here can bat first. Ten pitches each. Try to work the field.”

  “No problem, Coach!” Brad called back. I knew him the best out of the guys on the field. Not that I was acquainted with him at all; he was captain of the football team, but he also happened to be the boyfriend of Portia’s best friend, Shelly. A few more hushed whispers were spoken as I approached, then the group broke up and headed onto the field. Something was definitely going on.

  Following Brad to where the bats were hanging in the chain link fence, I flung my jacket across the top and carefully looked at the available bats. A sudden sensation flooded through me and I had to fight hard not to smile. Portia was somewhere close by and s
he was concerned about me.

  “Play much baseball?” Brad asked, interrupting my thoughts.

  “Haven’t really had the time,” I replied, trying to use my senses to pinpoint where Portia might be. She was hiding somewhere, wanting to remain unseen.

  “Well, pick a weight and length that feels good to you,” Brad continued, grabbing a long, heavy looking bat. “Then you can go stand over there and warm up while I hit. Watch your stance, keep your eye on the ball, and do the best you can.”

  I leaned against the fence and folded my arms. “I think I’ll just use the bat you’re using.”

  He stared at me, shaking his head. “Whatever floats your boat, man.” Going to the batter’s box, he dug his cleats into the dirt. “Bring it,” he called to the pitcher, Kurt.

  Brad was good. I had to give him credit for that. His natural athletic abilities took over as ball after ball sailed toward the players in the field, giving them all a good workout as they rushed to catch them.

  “Batter up,” he said, turning to me and extending the bat when he was finished. I took it and stepped into the box.

  “Do the best you can, son,” the coach called from where he stood outside the third baseline.

  I chuckled to myself. “Okay.” If he wanted my best, then I’d give it to him.

  Kurt’s face was covered in a giant grin, warning me that something was in play. He wound back and threw. I recognized the sinker and automatically adjusted myself to hit it, using a little magical force to align things. Connecting perfectly, the ball sailed past the far fence. Everyone turned to stare at me, dumbfounded.

  The grin slid from Kurt’s face and a determined look replaced it. I waited for the next pitch, ready to tackle whatever he had to offer.

  Portia’s delight flooded through me, fueling my determination even more, as the balls went sailing past the fence, again and again, until the last one, which I added a large magical burst to, causing the bat to break in half.

  “Sorry, bro. I guess I broke your bat,” I said, holding the piece in my hand out to Brad. He stared at me wide-eyed, as if he were unable to believe what he’d seen. “I said I hadn’t had time to play. I didn’t say I couldn’t.”

  Walking past him, I went to the fence to retrieve my jacket.

  “How about going out for the team, son?” the coach called.

  “Not a chance,” I replied, walking off the field. There was no way I wanted to associate with any of these losers.

  ---

  Despite my late arrival at school, it felt like lunchtime would never arrive. When the bell finally rang to release us, I hurried directly to Portia’s locker, not wanting to risk missing her. I knew she often went to lunch with her friend Shelly, but today I wanted to see if she would come with me instead. Spending time with her had quickly become my favorite thing to do.

  She didn’t see me waiting as she paused with Shelly at her locker. Turning her head, she finally noticed me standing there. Giving a nod, I cast my glance in the direction of the door. She smiled, catching my meaning immediately.

  Whispering something to Shelly, the two of them looked my way and Shelly all but shoved Portia in my direction. Portia smiled and continued over to meet me. I popped her locker open and took her books, putting them away and closing it again.

  “How’d you do that?” she asked, her eyes wide.

  Leaning in close next to her ear, I whispered, “Magic, remember?”

  “Oh, yeah.” She smiled as I reached down, linking our fingers together, and welcoming the spark that ran up my arm again at the contact.

  Gently, I led her down the hallway toward the double doors as people stopped to stare at the two of us, some open mouthed, others pointing and whispering. It was crazy to see the reactions of our classmates, but I didn’t mind one bit.

  “Silly, isn’t it?” Portia said as we stepped outside into the sunlight.

  “Not at all. Now the whole school knows you’re my girl.” Claiming her with the words infused me with a deep, satisfying pleasure. I liked how it sounded.

  She came to a dead stop, looking so cute as she squinted at me. “Is that what I am?” Her hand trembled in mine.

  Moving so we were standing face to face, I stared down into her beautiful onyx eyes, feeling like I could drown in the depths of them. “That’s what you are.” Sliding my hands to the sides of her face, I bent and kissed her mouth. A pulse instantly shot through me at the contact and I had to have more. I moved my hands behind her, dragging her body the rest of the way to mine, closing the small space between us. Her hands traveled upward, latching around my neck and she opened her mouth willingly, allowing my tongue to sink inside her. She tasted so good, her breath sweet as if she’d recently eaten some delicious fruit.

  Goose bumps flared across my skin, everything about me winding tighter and tighter. I wanted to consume her, right there on the sidewalk. I didn’t care who was watching. My hands naturally heated and I had to force myself to release her, so I wouldn’t burn her.

  She stared at me, eyes wide, as if she too was in shock. I had to physically focus on cooling myself down. I couldn’t stay away, though. I needed to touch her again.

  Grabbing her hand, I pulled her in the direction of my bike, wanting to keep her moving before things could get awkward between us. I couldn’t stop marveling about what I’d just experienced. It was incredible—and I wanted to do it again.

  We left the parking lot and headed to a burger joint near the school. Leading her to an empty table, we sat down. I couldn’t stop stroking her hand, loving the way her skin felt next to mine.

  Memories of this morning filled my mind and watching her closely, I smiled.

  “What?” she asked, acting confused.

  “Did you enjoy the show this morning?” I couldn’t resist teasing her.

  “What show?”

  “I knew you were there, you know, hiding behind the dugout. What a sneaky little girl you are.” I shook my finger at her, laughing as her face stained brightly with color.

  “You knew?” An amazed expression crossed her features. “Oh, this is so embarrassing.” She groaned and covered her face with her free hand.

  “Why don’t you tell me what you were doing there?” She was so cute when she was flustered, and I continued to chuckle when she wouldn’t meet my gaze.

  “I was worried about you,” she replied with a half shrug.

  This surprised me. “Worried? Why?”

  “Well, you seemed so melancholy when you left last night. I couldn’t get you, or your story, out of my head. I had all these nauseating thoughts of what would happen if your . . . ” her voice dropped to a whisper and she glanced around, “ . . . if your dad were to suddenly find you. It terrified me to think I could wake up one morning and you would just be gone—poof—like you’d never even been here. Then I got to school today, and you weren’t there. I couldn’t find you after class either and—”

  “And you thought the worst happened, so you came looking for me.” I felt horrible. Had I been paying better attention, I would’ve known. “Oh, Portia. I’m so sorry for worrying you. I had to help Marsha get her car to the shop and it didn’t open until right when school started. Then, when I did finally get there, I had to go to a meeting and do some schedule changes with the counselor. I didn’t even think you might be alarmed about it.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Well, I feel completely foolish now.”

  “Don’t.” I covered her hand in both of mine. “You have no idea how much it means to know you cared enough to do something like that. I haven’t had anyone do something that sweet for me in a long time.” I stared at her, wishing I could somehow better convey my feelings. Her heart was so pure and sweet.

  “Order number ten,” a voice behind the counter called, breaking the moment. Reluctantly, I stood and went to get our food.

  ---

  “Spill it,” Marsha said, coming in from her hostess position at Bruce’s restaurant. Because he was a coven member, he�
��d hired her for the job, knowing she wanted it to be kept off the books. Everything he paid her was under his wife’s name, so he wasn’t cheating anyone out of taxes or anything like that. This allowed Marsha to work without leaving a paper trail that could easily be followed.

  “Spill what?” I asked, glancing at her from where I was sitting on the couch, totally confused as to what she was talking about.

  “The rumor mill says you were spotted holding hands with Portia at school today and that you were seen kissing too.” She crossed her arms and stared at me, raising an eyebrow as she waited.

  “Oh, that.” Trying really hard to keep the grin from spreading across my face, I turned back toward the television. “What do we want to do for dinner tonight?”

  “Don’t you even try to change the subject on me, mister. What’s going on? Are you dating her now?”

  I shrugged. “If you call holding hands and eating lunch together dating, then yeah, I guess so. I haven’t really had the chance to ask her on a proper one yet.”

  “So, is this like a once in a while thing? Are you going to ask other girls out as well?”

  “Um, no. It’s Portia or nothing.” There was no way I could even look at anyone else. She was it for me.

  “So, this is like a steady boyfriend/girlfriend thing then?”

  “Yep,” I replied, knowing she wanted me to elaborate some more, but I didn’t want to. I wanted to keep my feelings regarding Portia to myself for a while. They were private.

  “Why didn’t you tell me all this when I asked you the other day?”

  “There wasn’t anything to tell. It was all new and I wanted to see how things went before my well-meaning, matchmaking aunt got involved. Don’t mess things up for me, Marsha. Let it develop as naturally as it can, okay?”

  “What do you mean naturally?” She studied me harder, looking for the hidden significance behind my words.

  I sighed. “I mean I want things to develop however they will between the two of us. No inviting her here for dinner, or collaborating with her parents to get us together. We already have a connection and I want to see how it will develop on its own.” I stood and went into the kitchen, hearing her footsteps following behind me. “Now, I’m starving. I know you just got off work and probably don’t want to cook anything, so I can either make something for you or we can hit a restaurant. You decide.”