Witch Hunter Olivia (7 page)

“She said I need to talk to one of the Elders. That he’d have the answers I need, or something like that. It’s all kind of fuzzy right now,” I say while massaging my temples as a headache begins to invade.

“When did she say that? I didn’t hear anything except her speaking in tongues.”

“She told me while she was in my head.”

“So, what now?” Heath asks.

“I think I need to have a little chat with a certain sorority president, and then it’s time for family reunion number two.”

“Going to visit the parentals, huh? You think that’s a good idea?”

“If an Elder was involved in this whole mess with my brother, it’s not like I can walk right up to Guild headquarters and request a meeting. My mom’s the only one still talking to me, so that’s my one and only option right now.”

It’s only been a couple hours since we passed by the Alpha Nu Gamma house on our way to Jack’s. It seemed empty then, but now there are several cars out front and in the driveway.

Pulling Scarlet up to the curb, I throw her into park before telling Heath to sit tight while I go talk with Angelica. The entire way up to the front door, I find myself mulling over every question I want to ask her, making sure I don’t leave anything out.

I knock a few times and then my abdomen crunches slightly as I hear heels clicking on the foyer’s wooden floor inside. The instant Angelica sees me after opening the door, she smiles wide and releases a tiny squeal before wrapping her arms around my neck. I stiffen in anticipation of a painful surge throughout my entire midsection, but it never happens. I only get the normal amount of discomfort.

“I can’t believe you’re here. I’ve been talking about you nonstop today, and how you saved my life last night,” she exclaims into my ear. She pulls back to look at me and her wide eyes and toothy smile framed by her curly red hair is all I see. “Our housemother is dying to meet you.”

I barely have two seconds to even get a word in as Angelica links her arm with mine and guides me toward the living room area. She keeps chatting my ear off about how awesome it is that she can thank me in person.

When we enter the living room, I’m shocked to see Tara there amongst several other girls I recognize from the party last night. My surprised eyes meet hers and she sends me a slight wave coupled with a little shrug and a hesitant look.

“You must be Olivia,” a woman announces while moving from her seat to make her way over to us. She’s dressed in a fashionable navy blue pantsuit and has her blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun. I’m guessing she’s the housemother, since everyone else in the room looks like they’re in college. “I’m Hattie, Alpha Nu Gamma’s housemother.” She extends her hand to shake mine.

I’m cautious to give her my hand, but after a few seconds, I take hers and give it a delicate shake. There’s no jolt or even the slightest of tremors through my abdomen. She isn’t a witch. How is the housemother of a predominately witch-run sorority not one?

“It’s so nice to meet you, Olivia. Angelica hasn’t stopped flapping her gums about your heroics last night. May I speak with you in private so the girls can get back to their house meeting?” she asks while gesturing toward the hallway I just came from.

“Uh, sure,” I reply and wait until she leads the way. I send one last disapproving look to Tara before following Hattie out of the room.

“Let’s chat in my office, shall we?” she calls out over her shoulder.

She stops in front of a set of open doors. She waves her hand toward the room and allows me to enter before her. I hear the doors slide closed, which causes me to spin around. Her face is inquisitive and seems to have a hint of frustration spread across it. Gone is her cheery demeanor.

“Can you please explain to me what in the hell happened last night?”

Her question and tone surprise me. Two seconds ago, she was this prim and proper lady, and now she resembles a scorned woman.

“There I was,” she huffs before continuing, “on my first date in what seemed like forever last night, with the most perfect man I might add, and I get a phone call from Angelica asking me to pick her up. She was at the university because the sorority house had been shot up by some unknown assailant.” I try to butt in and explain, but she cuts me off. “Do you realize I had to spend the remainder of the night wrangling up all the students who attended the party in order to have Angelica perform memory wiping charms until the wee hours of the morning? And then I had to clean this place up. Thankfully, we got everything tidy by the time the police arrived, and were able to explain it was a hazing prank gone awry and was blown completely out of proportion, just in case anyone had reported what actually happened.” She takes a deep breath after her rant and then focuses her attention solely on me, waiting for me to say something.

I can’t really tell her what happened because then I risk implicating my brother, and possibly starting a war. “I have no idea what happened last night. All I know is bolts were fired into the living room, but I never saw who did it. I just pulled Angelica out of the way, that’s it.”

Her upturned eyebrows let me know she isn’t buying it. “Well, speaking of those bolts, they were nowhere to be found when I got here. And Angelica told me you plucked the first one right out of the air. I’m sorry, but that sounds like you have some skill. So, who are you exactly? And no, I won’t believe it was a lucky catch.”

“Sounds like Angelica was confused when she told you what happened. I ducked and covered just like everyone else,” I reply.

Her probing stare slams into me like a ton of bricks. “You’re not fooling me, my dear. I’m not like most humans in this town who are completely oblivious to the other world right beneath their noses.”

I sigh, realizing I have to tell her who I am. “All right, you got me. I’m an ex-Witch Hunter, but I’m trying to start my life over. I had nothing to do with what went down last night. I’ve turned my back on the Guild and have absolutely zero ties to them now. Please, you can’t tell anyone. The last thing I need right now is this getting out more than it already has.”

“Your secret’s safe with me, dear. I have a little secret of my own,” she says. “I’m Miss Angelica’s keeper appointed by her mother, who’s one of the seven High Priestesses. I’m sure you’re aware of them, since you were a Hunter.”

If this lady is Angelica’s keeper, what was she doing out on a date with some guy and not here?

“It figures the one time I decide to have some
me
time that something like this would happen. Angelica was the one who pushed me to go out. I refused for days, since I knew going on this date would mean I’d have to ignore my obligations for a few hours. I’ll be lucky if I’m not banished for this,” she sighs. “I did take extra precaution last night and had Angelica wear a bangle of protection, even though she complained that it didn’t really go with her outfit. But it was my stipulation for going out. She had to wear it.”

That must’ve been why the bolt didn’t hit her last night. The bangle also explains why I was in so much pain yesterday when I touched her and not when I hugged her today.

“Why was she so intent on you going out?”

“Why do most young people not want their elders around? Because she didn’t want me here cramping her style. Plus, she’s been on me about needing to take a day for myself anyway, so I did.”

“Can you think of anyone who’d want to hurt her?” I ask, trying to find out anything that may help clear my brother.

“Not really,” she replies.

“Are you sure? If there’s something you’re not telling me, now would be the time to spill it since, you know, Angelica’s life is on the line here.”

She looks to be struggling with herself over what she wants to say. I can tell she has some information, but she isn’t sharing. Finally, a heavy breath escapes her lips.

“The High Priestess is going to string me up for sure over this,” she murmurs. “There is one person who might want something to do with her. You may actually know him. Tobias Young. I believe you used to call him Elder. He has past ties to Angelica’s mother. But you can’t say where you got this info, because then I’ll surely be exiled by the High Priestesses.”

Tobias Young was the same name Jack gave me.

“Sounds like I need to pay a visit to Tobias.” I notice Hattie’s uneasy expression. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to say anything about you. I just want to get this whole thing resolved, and get back to my new life.”

“May I ask you a question, Olivia?” she inquires as I’m about to slide open the doors to leave.

“Sure.”

“Why are you so interested in this matter? It’s not every day a Hunter actually helps the very thing they’re sworn to keep under control.”

In my head, I’m saying to help my brother, but out loud I answer, “First of all, I’m an ex-Hunter, so everyone is on the same playing field now in my eyes. And second, that person shot at me too, and I don’t know about you, but when someone shoots at me, I tend to take it personally.”

“Fair enough,” she replies, and motions to me that I’m free to go.

Sliding open the doors, I almost crash right into Tara. “Don’t be irked with me,” she whispers with puppy-dog eyes.

I quickly shut the doors behind me and grab her by the arm before pulling her off to the side so we can talk without prying ears. “I’m not irked.”

“You are, too, irked. I could tell the moment you saw me here,” she replies, shaking off my grip on her forearm.

“Okay, maybe I’m a bit irked. What the frick are you doing here?” I murmur.

“I bumped into Angelica while walking back to our dorm from
our
Intro to Crim class, and we got to talking about last night. Before I knew it, we were here.”

“Like by magic?”

“No, she drove,” Tara answers, and then cuts me off when I’m about to speak. “Look, I clearly have an in here, so maybe I can help you with collecting some info.”

“Out of the question,” I mutter.

“I’m not made of glass, Livie. Stop treating me like I am. I’m a part of this paranormal world now, whether or not you like it. So let me be a part of it and help you,” she pleads.

I knew this would happen sooner or later. Why is starting over never simple? It seems like we’re having a standoff of the wills as we stare each other down for a few seconds. I’m only able to keep my steely gaze up for so long before it cracks under the pressure of her pointed one. She knows I know she’s right, like always.

“Okay, but you’re on recon only. If anything happens, you call me ASAP, no questions. Please try and remember that we’re tied together now, so don’t go being a shero. Ass kicking is my domain.”

“Understood,” she replies with a half-smile. “Thank you for trusting me, Livie. It means a lot.”

“Please don’t make me regret this.”

“I’ll be careful, don’t worry,” she states, placing her hand on my shoulder while sending me a reaffirming look.

“Famous last words, right?” I say, causing her to giggle.

“Leaving so soon?” Angelica’s voice rings down the hall, leading up to where we’re standing. She hurries over to us, her heels shuffling across the wood floors. She drapes her arm around Tara’s shoulder and sends me a wide smile.

“Yeah, I was, but Tara’s still free. I have someone waiting for me.”

“Oh, like a guy?” Angelica probes, which causes Tara to look at me with a wicked grin.

“Yeah, kind of, I guess,” I reply, dodging Tara’s goofy face because she knows who I’m talking about.

“You’ll so have to bring him to the Alpha Nu Gamma pre-hell week initiation party tomorrow night. It’s the second round of the initiation process, and a super big deal. I’m totes not supposed to say anything until the invites go out this afternoon, but Tara here is so in,” she explains, hugging her close and causing Tara to beam with a tiny squeal. “You’ll come, right, Olivia?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I say, but am thinking to myself this will probably be the perfect time to draw out Angelica’s attacker and get to the bottom of this.

“Perfect. Then it’s all set,” Angelica says with her picturesque smile still gleaming.

“Okay, so I’m only going to ask you this one more time, Liv. Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you to see your mom?” Heath asks as we pull into Dark Ink’s parking lot.

“Yeah, I’m positive. This is something I’ve got to do by myself. I appreciate the offer, really I do, but it’s already going to be tough enough being in front of her without a warlock tagging along. No offense,” I reply, putting Scarlet into park and turning to face him.

He sends me a concerned look. “You don’t have to do everything alone. You know that, right? I realize it might seem easier to go at this solo, but if people want to help you, you should consider letting them. I mean, I understand wanting to see your mom by yourself, but just know you don’t have to figure this whole mess out on your own.”

“I know, but if I’m alone, then no one is in danger but me. It kills me a little bit every day when I think about what happened to Tara, and I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself or the Guild. I’m tired of seeing people I care about put in danger because of my actions. That’s why I left in the first place,” I explain, shying away from Heath as I talk.

I feel him lean close to me, and the whole right side of my body heats up like I’m sitting next to a roaring fire. The heat spreads across my chest and caresses the side of my face as his arm reaches over and his fingertips touch my left cheek, causing me to turn toward him again. His face is full-on serious and his blue eyes feel like they’re peering right through my facade.

“You’re not alone. Remember that, okay?”

I feel each word as they leave his lips. He backs away from me and opens the car door before making his exit. I’m left here in a daze, still feeling his fiery embrace against my cheek. I reach up to trace where his fingers just grazed while watching him walk to the front door of the parlor. I’ve never seen him look so serious, and his abrupt exit makes me wonder if I said the wrong thing, or if it was just because I was being stubborn like always. Unfortunately, I have more pressing issues at hand than dealing with my complicated feelings for Heath.

*****

Before making the long drive to my parents’ house, I decide to head back to the dorm in order to change my clothes. I want to give the impression I’ve started over, and my current wardrobe choice kind of still screams Witch Hunter.

Heath’s voice keeps popping into my head as I hurry down the hall toward my room, and I can’t seem to shake him. Maybe I don’t want to shake him. What the hell am I thinking? Of course I don’t want to.

I go to reach for our room’s door handle, but when I grab it, the door cracks open without me having to turn it. “Dammit, Tara,” I mutter under my breath before pushing the door open the rest of the way.

“There’s my Olive.”

I’m frozen in place as my eyes study the woman in front of me. “Mom?”

Maybe it’s because I haven’t seen her in months, but I’ve never seen her look so beautiful. Her long, wavy black hair cascades down upon her shoulders like a waterfall and frames a face that is uncannily similar to my own. I look exactly like my mother, and have been told that my entire life. When I see her mouth sprout into a hesitant smile, the one dimple that forms on her right cheek mirrors mine, since I’m smiling too.

Before I can utter another word, she rushes over, wraps me up in a warm embrace, and squeezes me tightly. I can feel how much she’s missed me. I hug her just as hard and a sense of relief washes over me. Even though what I’ve done should never allow this to happen again, here we are like nothing’s changed between us. We’ve talked a few times on the phone, but this is the first time I’ve been able to see her smiling face. I owe being able to start over to her.

“What are you doing here?” I’m finally able to ask. I don’t care about the answer, I’m just so happy to see her.

“A mother can only stay away from her children so long until it drives her crazy,” she replies, but doesn’t release the hug.

“Does Dad know you’re here?”

“Not exactly,” she replies guiltily while pushing back to look at me.

“Wait, you haven’t told him yet? You’re still doing all this behind his back?”

“Sort of. It’s not like your father’s the easiest person to talk to about things like this,” she sighs, moving away from me to sit on the edge of my bed. “I hate this whole situation, Olive. I don’t know how much longer I can help pay your tuition without your father finding out. He loves you, but his hands are tied by the Hunter’s code.”

“What about you, Mom? Aren’t you afraid of what the Guild might do to you?” I ask, sitting down next to her.

“Personally, I don’t give a damn what they have to say. I’ve given them the best years of my life, and now I have to see my daughter in secret because of them, so they can deal with it. Your father, on the other hand … I do care what he thinks, even though I’d wholeheartedly disagree with him if he had an issue with me being here,” she explains, sending me a soft smile.

“I don’t want you to get in trouble for me. I appreciate it so much that you’re helping me out, but I don’t want to be the reason you get punished. I’ve caused enough issues for our family. There’s no need for more.”

“You’re my daughter, Olivia. My blood. I will never abandon you, no matter what some code tells me,” she says, grabbing my hand and squeezing it gently. “You don’t have to worry about your mother. I’m as tough as they come.”

I beam as she kisses my forehead. My mom isn’t lying when she says that. She’s one of the few Hunters who can control four Maulers and have each one be combat-ready with no filler. My father’s the same way.

I want to come out and tell her about what’s been going on with my brother, but she’s already toeing the line by helping me, and quite frankly, I don’t want to make her more worried than she is now.

“I’m glad you came out here to visit, Mom. I’ve missed you.” I rest my head on her shoulder before hooking my arm around hers.

She releases a soft laugh. “I’ve missed you too, obviously.” The heavy sigh that follows has me worried. “I wish I could say my visit was just about me wanting to see you, but it’s not.”

I push back from her shoulder to catch her somber expression. “Did something happen?”

“Yes, unfortunately, something did.”

“Unfortunately?”

“One of the Elders was found dead this morning.”

“Oh my God, who was it?”

“Tobias Young.” The moment that name leaves her mouth, I inwardly gasp. My only lead has been eliminated. “That’s not all. There was a note that said, ‘This was for the Gibbons family.’”

“Tara’s family?” I ask and my mother nods. “What? How did it happen?”

“No one knows for sure. One of the other Elders found him in his office. There were two arrows lodged in his chest, and both had the Witch Hunter insignia on them.”

The first thought that comes to mind was what happened last night. Maybe this has something to do with that. There are too many coincidences happening for this to not all be linked somehow.

“Did you not know he was the one who ordered the hit on Tara’s father?”

“No.”

“Olivia, there are rumblings within the Guild that you may be responsible for this. I didn’t believe it for a second—”

“Is that why you came to see me? Because you wanted to make sure I didn’t do this?” I ask, interrupting her.

“No, I came to warn you that the Guild is this close,” she says, demonstrating with her index finger and thumb, “to sending out a search party to capture you and bring you in for questioning. They all know your reasons for leaving, and that only implicates you more in their eyes.”

“I didn’t do it, Mom.”

“I know you didn’t, Olive. That’s why I’m here.”

I alight from the bed and begin to pace. “What do Dad and Malcolm think?”

“That doesn’t matter right now—”

“What do you mean? Of course it matters. Do my own father and brother believe I could do something like this?” I interject with a certain harshness in my voice.

“Your father has his trademark emotional wall up, and he’s being stubborn about this. And I haven’t seen or talked with your brother in more than a week,” she replies while standing up to be on my level. She takes hold of my arms, bringing me to a stop. “I need you to go to the Dark Ink parlor and have a masking spell cast on you. At least until your name is cleared.”

“Mom, you’re not going to do anything. This is my problem,” I say, trying to control the volume of my voice.

“Any problem you have is my problem too,” she replies with a troubled smile. “Promise me you’ll get that spell.” She digs in her purse and pulls out a roll of money held together by a rubber band. “Here, this should be enough to cover the cost.”

“I can’t accept this—”

“This isn’t up for discussion, young lady. You’re my number-one priority, Olive, and there’s nothing I won’t do to keep you safe,” she says, grabbing my hand and shoving the wad of cash into my palm. “I’d love to stay, but I need to get going before your father wonders why I’ve been gone for so long. I wish this visit could’ve been under better circumstances, but it was wonderful seeing you. I love you so much.” My mom gives me a kiss on the cheek and one last embrace before she goes to leave.
 
 
 
 
 
 

“I love you too. Be careful, please,” I say as she opens the door.

She looks over her shoulder back at me with a worried smile. “Please go to the Dark Ink parlor.”

I nod before she heads out and closes the door behind her. Mass confusion fills my mind now that I’m alone with my thoughts. I’m torn on what my next move should be. The only two things I’m sure of at this very moment are that I need to track down who killed Tobias, and I have to find out what really happened at the party last night.