Love Nip (20 page)

I walked over to the fire and threw some more firewood on top. The flames grew higher, the warmth covered my skin and eased som
e of the tension. I knelt next to Ezra’s body and took his hand in my own. The coven members took hands and formed a circle around us. They began chanting words I had never heard before. Axle stood in human form at the edge of the forest; his chest gleamed in the moonlight and his eyes bore into mine. I could feel his pain as he fought with himself. Axle had always allowed me to make my own mistakes, but this had to be one decision he didn’t want to allow. I gave him a slight smile, letting him know I would take care of myself. Suddenly I felt a delicate vibration coming from Ezra’s hand. I looked down and squeezed his hand, placing my other hand upon his chest.

“Please
, Ezra, come back to me,” I whispered into his ear. I closed my eyes and willed him to live.

The chanting continued to grow louder. Lighting struck miles away,
and it sent chills down my spine. The night sky had been crystal clear on our drive over. Flames grew until they were impossibly high. There was a distinctive movement in my hand. I looked down at Ezra’s face. His jaw twitched ever so slightly.

“Come on
, Ezra, be strong. Come back, if you can’t do it for me do it for Riley. This world isn’t made to be without you.” I ran my hands through his hair as I cheered him on. I suddenly became dizzy, as if I was being drained. I could feel the color leaving my face, a cold sweat rested on my skin. I could hardly see through the black overtaking my vision.

“Stop it, you’re hurting Emily
.” I could barely hear Axle‘s words.

“Stop,” Hessley demanded.

My body fell to the ground next to Ezra’s. I was barely conscious enough to see Hessley and Axle throwing people around to break the circle. Immediately I felt a little better. I still had less blood flowing to my face, but I could see. My body refused to move, so I lay unable to stop the fight that had started. I looked over at Ezra; his body faced mine. His skin appeared to be gaining color.

“Ezra,” I croaked.

I looked at his motionless chest. A single tear tumbled down over my nose and into the dirt. Once I could finally move I placed my hand on his chest. Closing my eyes, I thought as hard as I could for him to live. It was worth a try, there was no telling how many of the witches were now dead and I knew my attempt was over. I didn’t know what I was doing, thankfully I was too scared and hopeful not to be embarrassed over my actions. I thought about his blood rushing through his veins and into his heart. I could almost hear his heart beating. I imagined air rushing into his lungs and separating into his blood stream. A few minutes must have passed, I heard silence and I wasn’t sure if my hearing had gone or if I was alone. I opened my eyes, and stared directly into Ezra’s crystal blues.

“A
re you really alive?” I asked in disbelief.

He responded with a smile. I was thankful my body started working at that moment,
because I threw my body on top of his. The tears poured from my eyes onto his chest. I placed my ear over his heart and just listened as I cried.

“I thought I had lost you forever,” I said between tears.

He chuckled low and throaty. “I’m not that easy to get rid of.”

I laughed
. “Please don’t ever do that to me again.”

“I’ll try not to.”

I picked up my head and looked around, remembering that we were not alone. A few of the coven members were on the ground, bleeding but not dead. Dee-Dee stood beside Axle, staring in astonishment. Axle’s eyes were wet, he seemed happy and sad at the same time. I helped Ezra to his feet and held onto his arm. Axle walked up and hugged him tightly.

“Dude, I’ve never been so happy to see you,” Axle said as a lone tear fell.

“Thanks, man,” Ezra replied.

De
e-Dee walked over and placed a hand on my arm. “You totally are a witch.”

I chuckled
, even though I wasn’t sure how it happened or if I really had anything to do with it.

I heard someone clear their throat. I looked over at Hessley
, knowing what was coming before he spoke.

“This is all touching
, but I really would like to get home before sunrise. I like to feed before bed,” he stated as he walked over. He grabbed my arm, pulling me away from Ezra.

“Ok
ay, can I at least say goodbye?” I asked as I snatched my arm back.

He walked away and stood by his men. I slowly turned back to Ezra, Axle, and De
e-Dee. I grabbed Dee-Dee and pulled her in for a hug.

“You don’t have to do this, there is still time to fight,” she stated into my hair.

“He held his side of the deal so far, I can’t go back on my word,” I explained.

“Well, at least try to call me or something,” she begged.

“You know I will.”

“I’m going to miss you,” she said as she started to cry.

I smiled and turned to Ezra.

“Em, what’s going on?” he asked.

I sighed. He wouldn’t like this. “I made a deal with the devil in order to keep you all safe and to bring you back. I have to go and I don’t know for how long. Please don’t try anything. I would rather keep you safe than have you risk your life. You have a second … well, third chance at life now, please don’t waste it. Go back to Riley and be with her.”

He pulled me into a hug
. “I guess there is no talking you out of this?”

I
laughed quietly. “Just take care of Axle and Kimmy for me.”

Finally I turned to Axle. The tears began to fall as our eyes met. He pulled me close.
             

“You know this is not over, right?”
he said into the top of my head. “I won’t give up trying to find you.”

I smiled. The warmness from his body radiated through me. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

He lifted my face to his until we were inches away. “I love you, Emily.” He placed his lips on my own and kissed with passion I had never before felt. I ran my hands through his hair and pulled him in so tight, holding on with everything I had. When our lips parted I couldn’t let go.

“I don’t want to leave you, but I want you to
be safe. Please take care of Dee-Dee and Kimmy,” I cried out. I didn’t know how to respond to his confession but now wasn’t the time to think too much on it. I cared deeply for Axle, that was the truth, but did I love him? I wasn’t sure if I even knew what love was. I finally loosened my grip on Axle and turned to face Hessley.

I walked over until his hand found my own. Hessley snapped
his fingers, and his men started to walk along side of us through the forest. Once I could no longer feel Axle’s pain the sobs began. I knew it was annoying Hessley, but I didn’t care nor could I stop it. I followed them into a white car that was parked on the street. Hessley sat in the back next to me. I laid my face on the window; the coolness from the glass felt good against my skin.

A deep
, dark depression loomed over me. What I would have given to have just a few more minutes with Axle. I regretted not telling him how I felt. I was so confused, I wasn’t even sure if we were dating. Surely someone can’t love another person this quickly. The more I thought it over, the more I wanted to love Axle. He was my everything and losing him made me realize that I had deep feelings for him. If that was love or lust I wasn’t sure, but I did know that I wanted to be with him forever.

I must have fallen aslee
p thinking it over, because I awoke to Hessley carrying me inside a large house. It was too dark to see exactly where we were or what the house looked like. I pushed against his chest and fell to the ground.

“Fine, you want to be difficult suit yourself. You may as well give into this, you are mine now,” H
essley fussed, stepping over my body.

I stood
, dusted myself off, and followed them into the house. Rocko and Buster went separate ways, leaving Hessley and me alone. There was a lone couch in the middle of the room. Hessley plopped down on the couch, and a cloud of dust flew into the air. Hessley began to cough as he flapped his arms about, attempting to dispense the dust.

“Sorry
, we don’t get home much,” he apologized.

“Whatever, can you just show me where I can sleep
. I’m tired.” I wasn’t in the mood for chitchat with the vampire.

He scoffed. After a moment
of quiet he finally stood, brushing the dust from his pants. I followed him down a nearby hallway. He opened the first door we came to and moved aside so I could enter. I gave a heavy sigh and walked in, not knowing what to expect. I was surprised to see that I would have a roommate. A girl was asleep on the queen-sized bed. The room was dark, but I could make out her red curly hair that seemed as if it hadn’t been brushed in a while. Hessley flipped on the lights and I suddenly recognized the red head.

“
Maggie,” I breathed. I ran over to check on her. She didn’t seem hurt, but there were bite marks in her neck and up her arms.

“You bastard, you’ve been feeding on her
.” I glared at Hessley.

He shrugged
. “Better get used to it, sweetheart. You’re going to be dinner tomorrow.”

Chills traveled down the length of my body
. If he really thought he was going to drink my blood he had another thing coming. I would die before I let his nasty lips touch my skin. Hessley shut the door, leaving Maggie and me alone. I swept the tangled curls from her face.

“It’s going to be ok
ay, Maggie. I’ll get us out of here, I promise.” I didn’t feel very confident in my promise but I had to say it.

“Who are you?” she croaked.

“My name is Emily. I work for a special agency that protects supernatural people. I was working with your coven to find you. My guys will be working nonstop until they find us.”

She laid her head back down and rolled
, facing her back to me. “Just like you found me?”

She had a point. It would be nearly impossible for Axle to find me. I unlaced my shoes and slid them off. They hit the floor and bounced under the bed. I
lay with my back to Maggie. I had to hang on to every ounce of hope I had. If I gave up I wouldn’t survive long. I wanted nothing more than to be in my own bed in my own apartment. The tears crept out and slid down my face one after the other. I fell asleep just before morning.

A kno
ck at the door woke me up. I stood up, feeling disorientated. I rubbed my eyes as I crossed the room to the door. Maggie was gone. I opened the door to find Rocko and Buster standing in the hallway. One carried a tray of food while the other carried a black backpack.

“We got a few things from your place to make your stay more enjoyable
.” Rocko smiled crookedly.

I grabbed the backpack and threw it over my shoulder. After I took the tray from Buster I slammed the door in their face. I sat on the bed and devoured the food. It wasn’t the best tasting meal I had ever had
, but I was so hungry cardboard would have tasted delicious to me. Once I finished I took the tray with me into the hallway. I decided to look around the house. It was a small farmhouse surrounded by land. There was a gravel road leading up to the house. I couldn’t see any civilization nearby. Once I realized I was in the middle of nowhere, my hope disappeared.

“Did you sleep well?” Hessley asked.

I turned to face him. “Where is Maggie?”

He walked over to a small bar in the corner of the room
. “I believe she is out with my men.” He poured three types of liquids into a silver mixer. After adding some ice he placed the lid back on the container and shook. He then took out two martini glasses and placed them on the counter.

“Would you care for
a drink?” he asked, filling his glass with the concoction.

I shook my head
; I had to stay clear-headed at all times if there was any chance of getting away. Axle would kill me if he busted in to save me and I was drunk. “What do you plan to do with me?” I feared his answer, but I had to know.

He took a long sip of his drink and walked over to the couch
, sitting down more gracefully than he had the night before. “I’m not exactly sure yet,” he answered and took another sip of his drink.

“Then why even keep me here?” I asked. As long as he answer
ed my questions, I would keep asking them.

“Because, not only are you fun to look at, one day I will have a use for you,” he answered and finished his drink. He walked back over to the bar and poured the rest of the
alcohol into his glass.

“So let me go
home and call me when you need me.” It sounded like I was kidding, but I was completely seriously.

The face he gave me was the same one a mom gives to a small child that makes a cheesy joke. “It doesn’t work that way, Emily. You can’t be trusted, plus we made a deal and I held up my end of the bargain,” he said, reminding me of my friends I had left behind.

“So what now, I just sit around all day waiting for you to come up with some spell you need?” I asked. I was done arguing for the moment. There was no way I would ever just give up completely, I would fight until
my death to get back home.