Blood Rush (The Lost Witch Trilogy #2) (21 page)

“Go back to sleep Sarah. Your body isn’t done healing,” Zane said tiredly, yawning loudly and turning over, with her still in his arms so they now faced each other on his opposite side.

Sarah smiled at the concern she heard in his voice and lifted a hand to run her fingers through his soft wavy hair. “Thanks for finding me and taking care of me,” she said in a whisper, kissing his cheek.

Zane’s bright silver eyes opened wide and gleamed at her warmly. “You probably shouldn’t kiss me right now,” he said huskily as he bent down and kissed her gently on the lips, negating what he’d just said.

Sarah laughed softly and traced his mouth with her finger. “For a moment there in the tunnel, I thought it was all over. I thought you were Charles and that I’d never see you again,” she said, her voice breaking and her other hand clenching around his t-shirt.

Zane leaned down and nuzzled her neck with his warm lips. “It’s over Sarah. You’re here, safe in my arms. It’s over,” he repeated and then ran his hand down her back, making her shiver and warming her at the same time.

Sarah smiled up into his eyes and then snuggled closer. “I like this. I
really
like this,” she whispered, feeling her power, now partially renewed, reach out towards Zane, enveloping him and pulling him closer to her.

Zane grinned in the darkness and leaned forward, kissing her deeply and thoroughly. Sarah wrapped her arms tightly around Zane and gave herself up to his kiss. A sharp knock on the door had her springing away from him instantly. Zane turned on his stomach, groaning in annoyance.

“Of course someone would have to knock right now,” he muttered darkly.

Sarah wrapped a blanket around her hips and got out of bed, grateful when her legs didn’t wobble or give out. She felt tired still, but her weakness was almost gone. She walked towards the door stiffly, turned on the light and opened the door to find her grandmother standing on the other side.

Francis stared worriedly at Sarah and then over her shoulder at Zane who was now sitting innocently in a chair by the window, with a book in his lap. “It’s almost nine o’clock Sarah. You’re so depleted you’ve lost at least five pounds. Come down stairs and eat some dinner. Zane, you too. You’re not as strong as you were this morning either. Come now, everyone’s waiting. There’s much to discuss,” she said almost gently.

Sarah nodded her head. “I’m going to take a quick shower if you don’t mind and then I’ll come down.”

Francis nodded and then raised her eyebrow at Zane who rolled his eyes and stood up, walking out of the room to follow her grandmother. He paused at the door and leaned down to kiss Sarah on the cheek. “Don’t take too long,” he said and disappeared.

Sarah took a quick, hot shower and put on a comfortable pair of sweats and one of Zane’s t-shirts hanging in the closet. She studied her hands in the light of the closet and grimaced at the angry red lines crisscrossing her palms. But the large purplish jagged mark on her right palm made her frown.

Lash had drunk her blood
.

She clenched her hand into a fist and felt a line of energy course down her arm towards the injury. She didn’t know what to think about Lash anymore but she knew for sure she didn’t trust him.

Chapter 16 - Roommates

Sarah slipped into the kitchen and watched for a moment unnoticed. Her father and Gretchen were sitting together at the table, their heads touching and his arm around her shoulders. She smiled at their closeness and then noticed her grandmother and Agnes standing together by the stove. Francis, always the strong one, was being comforted by Agnes. Sarah was pleased to see that Francis’ vision of their friendship was starting to come to life. Her attention was then drawn to Zane who was standing by the fridge, holding a cup of what had to be hot chocolate. His face was drawn and his eyes were shadowed. He looked angry and determined all at the same time. She moved automatically forward and then caught sight of a figure standing alone in the shadows. She breathed in deeply and knew Lash was watching her. He pulled himself away from the wall and walked slowly towards her.

Sarah swallowed nervously and clutched her still tender hands together as he got closer, not knowing what to say or how to handle him.

“You look better,” he said softly, as he came close.

Sarah nodded, watching him carefully. “Sleep helps. So does food,” she said and moved to walk around Lash.

Lash reached out and snagged her arm, making her go still and her eyes narrow as they stared at him.

“Please don’t look at me like that. Don’t look at me like I’m a monster,” he said quietly.

Sarah looked away from Lash and saw Zane moving towards them. Sarah shook her head at Zane and looked back at Lash.

“Can you blame me? You drank my blood Lash. You took strength from me when I needed it the most.”

Lash winced and nodded, hanging his head in shame for a moment before looking up into her eyes. “It was different Sarah.
You’re
so different. Everyone else’s blood is water compared to yours. I could taste your magic. Even that little bit of blood I drank from you, charged my body as if I’d been drinking blood for days. I haven’t felt this strong since . . . ,” he paused and looked down at his feet.

“You mean since Jill, right?” Sarah asked, frowning at him sadly.

Lash nodded and sighed. “Yeah, since Jill. I’m sorry Sarah. I apologize for my actions, but if you’d just try and understand. I couldn’t help myself. I don’t want you to be afraid of me,” he pleaded.

Sarah sighed and rubbed her cold arms, knowing he was asking the impossible. “I accept your apology Lash. The rest might just take time,” she said, stepping away from him, towards Zane, who watched Lash with a frown.

Lash tilted his head and smiled sadly. “I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give me,” he said and held out his hand to shake.

Sarah stared at his hand but then offered hers in return. She felt her energy spark at the contact and knew that she would hurt him if he ever tried to take her blood again.

Lash nodded and walked over to stand by Agnes. Zane joined her, slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her towards the table where a plate of food was waiting for her.

“Okay?” he asked softly.

Sarah nodded and tried to smile. “I guess.”

Zane reached out and touched her hair. “More streaks. Pretty soon, we’ll be matching blonds,” he said wryly.

Sarah surprised herself by smiling. “Come on, let’s eat,” she said and sat down across from her dad and Gretchen. Zane had already eaten, but went in for seconds.

Race and Gretchen filled her in on everything she had missed out on. Charlie was at the hospital, recovering from exposure and dehydration. The hospital wanted to keep her overnight for observation but she was expected to make a full recovery. The police had already questioned Beatrice and Francis since they had brought her in. They were sticking with the story that they had found her lying on the side of the road by the woods to keep everyone else out of it.

Charlie hadn’t been able to dispute it since she’d been unconscious. After being questioned by the police Beatrice and Francis had been let go quickly. Mostly due to Francis’s use of magical persuasion. They still wanted to talk to Zane though since he was considered her closest friend at school but he had an alibi for every second so they weren’t worried.

“Do you think Charles will try and take her again? Is she safe in the hospital?” Sarah asked as she took a bite of the chicken enchiladas Agnes and Gretchen had thrown together while she’d been asleep.

Race shrugged. “At this point, who can say? He very well could but I doubt it. I think he’s re-grouping and coming up with another plan to get
you
though. I’d like you to walk us through everything Sarah. I want you to describe this bubble you were trapped in and how you escaped,” he said, grasping his hands on the table and sitting forward.

Sarah kept eating but in between bites and questions she described the hard glass feel of the shield and how it had shrunk on her, shrinking faster when it took in her energy. She felt her grandmother, Agnes and Lash come to stand behind her, listening in as she told them how she’d used her power to dig down through the earth and how she’d been able to command the ground like she could water. She finished by describing the loud sonic boom that had hurt her ears after she was safely inside the tunnel.

Francis moved around the table to stand behind Race, studying Sarah’s face.

“You’re right. It was a trap designed specifically for you. Zane being able to pass in and out of it easily is astounding. Charles’s power is beyond anything I’ve heard of. How many witches has he bound and broken to do these things? It horrifies me. I’m not surprised my lines can’t hold him,” she said, flexing her hand and looking away.

Race shook his head. “I think your lines held just fine grandmother. But for some reason, he was able to pierce certain areas from a distance in order to place the trap and to retrieve Mason.”

Gretchen licked her lips and stared at Zane worriedly. “Speaking of Mason, he now knows about Zane which means he’s told Charles that there’s another powerful witch here.”

Sarah put her fork down and turned to look at Zane in horror. “He’ll be coming for you too,” she whispered.

Zane reached out and grabbed her hand under the table, sending power and comfort into her. “I’m not scared of Charles, Sarah. We’ve outmaneuvered him so far. We’ll just keep fighting him until he gives up.”

Sarah shook her head and took a sip of milk. “We’ve been lucky so far Zane. What happens if our luck runs out?” she asked, looking at her dad for answers.

Race winced and sat back in his chair. “None of us has the answers Sarah. We’re running around in the dark here. I just wish we’d had even five minutes with Mason. He was ready to tell us everything and he slipped out of our fingers,” he said savagely.

Gretchen rubbed his back soothingly, but looked stressed out and upset. Agnes stepped around the table and stood by her daughter, looking at Zane and Sarah with a small smile on her face.

“I think Charles is furious and upset and shocked right now. He’s never been refused anything he’s ever wanted. Except for you Race, of course. You’re the only one who’s lived that has denied him. And now your daughter has not only shown him up, she’s proven that she’s an equal match for him. He’s reevaluating right now. I think we’ll have a nice little break before he tries anything again. And when he does, we’ll be ready for him. All of us,” she said, smiling warmly at the circle of people surrounding the table.

Lash cleared his throat. “I don’t think I should be included in this group anymore. I would stay if I could help Sarah and protect her, but Sarah thinks I’m a danger to her,” he said sounding tired and sad.

Sarah lowered her head, not saying anything. She didn’t know what to say
. It was true
.

Race shook his head, looking Lash in the eyes. “Son, you made a big mistake. None of us are perfect. We all want you to stay. This is where you belong. With us. I know it.”

Agnes nodded her head firmly. “He’s right Lash. I’ve seen you in my dreams. You need to stay.”

Gretchen smiled at the troubled young man. “I’d like you to stay Lash. I’d miss you if you left.”

Francis studied the boy with sharp eyes, not smiling. “I’ll admit it, when I heard you’d lost control with Sarah, I had my doubts about you. But I can sense your heart Lash. Regardless of your past and your recent actions, I’m willing to give you another chance. Are you worthy of it?”

Lash stiffened and stood straighter. “I am. In my own defense, I had never tasted witch’s blood before. I’ll be more careful now,” he promised gravely.

Race raised an eyebrow at Zane and Sarah who were the only ones in the room who had remained quiet. “What about you two? What do you say? Sarah, you’re the one he injured and took from. Are you willing to forget it and be friends again?”

Sarah pulled her hand out of Zane’s warm grasp and looked down at her hand and the jagged scar and closed her eyes. She opened her eyes and looked over at Lash who had walked over to stand by her dad so he was right across from her. She stared into his eyes and saw the little boy she had always cared about and protected. What she saw made her smile. He was still the same boy underneath it all, blood lust or not.

“Okay.
Friends
. But I promise if you ever take my blood again, I’ll fry you,” she said, deadly serious.

Lash winced but nodded his head. “Please do.”

Everyone turned and looked at Zane, who was staring at Lash quietly. “I guess I’m the odd man out then, because I don’t think Lash should be anywhere around Sarah. He’s an addict. Sarah gave him the 12 step program back in Pennsylvania to help him get off blood. He’s had a taste of it now and not just any taste. He now knows what a witch’s blood can do for him. How can he be trusted around her or any of us for that matter?” he asked the entire group.

Lash’s face turned to stone as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at the table. Sarah stared at her hands, wondering how strong Lash could be now. Would tasting her blood send him into a raging thirst? She honestly didn’t know.

Race sighed and ran his hands tiredly through his hair. “Zane, everything you’ve just said, I’ve been thinking about. I’m Sarah’s father and I was there when he lost it. I’m the one who knocked him out. I get what you’re saying. But Agnes feels strongly that we can trust Lash and I believe her. I talked to Lash for an hour while you were,
um
, helping Sarah upstairs. He’s horrified at what he did. I don’t think we have to worry about it. And like Sarah said, she’ll protect herself next time.”

Sarah looked up to see Lash watching her face sadly. She blinked and looked away, feeling guilty for some reason.

Zane shook his head again, not giving up. “He’s on a blood high right now. From your
daughter
! If he went for Sarah right now, who’s to say she
could
protect herself? She can’t against Mason. You saw it yourself Race. Your power which is pretty incredible only slowed Mason down. I’m the only one here who can protect her,” he said, now looking at Lash angrily.