Coven (6 page)

“Just nice to know I still got it.”

“I tell you that all the time.”

“True, but I’ve had you duped from the
moment I met you.” He chuckled.

“Whatever. You forget I used to be able to
see into that crazy head of yours. I know you better than
anyone.”

“I haven’t forgotten.” Dad hesitated and I
listened in avid interest, waiting to see if he’d continue.

“
Tell her.”
I prompted mentally.
“This is the perfect opening for you.”

Dad didn’t give any indication he’d heard
me, but I knew he had by his next words. “I have a confession to
make, but I don’t want it to upset you.”

“That doesn’t sound good. Are you trying to
tell me you accepted the offer of this teenager?” I knew Mom was
teasing, but there was a hint of worry in her voice.

“You know that would never happen. You’re
the only one for me. If I live to be a thousand, there will never
be another woman. Only you.”

“You’ve been saying that since we were
teenagers. Are you sure you mean it still?” Again the humor was
laced through her voice.

“My love for you grows stronger with every
breath I take. You know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.
Nothing.”

“Yet, you’ve been keeping secrets from
me.”

“Only because I wasn’t sure how you’d feel
about it and I didn’t want to risk upsetting you. Ever since you
lost your powers, it’s been so much harder for me to read you. All
these years, and I still feel like I’m guessing most of the
time.”

“Welcome to the real world for most
men.”

“I don’t like it.”

There was a small clattering sound, as if
Mom had set her spoon down. “I think I know what your secret is
from the direction of this conversation.”

“Just hear me out, okay?”

“Vance, we’ve been over this a thousand
times. I’m good with how things are. I don’t need you trying to
figure out a way to give me back my powers. I’ve made my peace and
learned to deal with it.”

“Well, I haven’t!” My dad snapped, his
frustration showing heavily. “Every time I look at you, Portia, I
just feel so blessed to have you in my life. But I can’t help
thinking of how different your life might have been if you’d never
met me. I’m the one who screwed everything up for you. I just can’t
take it anymore!”

“Vance, listen to me. You did not screw my
life up. I love my life! I have you and my beautiful daughter. I
have my family back in Sedona, and I’m not some blood-crazed demon
witch, hell-bent on killing everyone around me. You saved me from
that life, don’t you see? You didn’t take my life away! You gave it
back! I wouldn’t have any of this if it weren’t for you.”

“But the fact remains, none of it would’ve
even been necessary had you not known me in the first place.”

“You can’t know that. I could’ve been
attacked by any demon anywhere. One could’ve found me walking down
the street and changed or even killed me. You wouldn’t have been
there to stop it from happening.”

“You didn’t even know about demon witches
and warlocks, or the dark side of magic, until you met me. I
brought that into your life. I’m the one who seduced you—who
repeatedly drank blood from you until you were forced to make the
change, as well.”

I seriously wondered if there was a magical
therapist, somewhere, that I could call for an intervention.
Because, in spite of the intense love my parents had for each
other, they sure had plenty of unresolved issues they managed to
sweep under the rug instead of dealing with them. I knew my dad
needed to work this out, though. It was a heavy burden I’d sensed
inside him on many occasions. This was something he couldn’t move
past, despite all the years he’d been trying.

“And you did that because your father had
you changed into a demon. If he’d not discovered you and been so
greedy about the things he wanted for himself, then neither of us
would’ve had to change. Lay the blame where it’s deserved, squarely
in front of your dad. I swear the world has never known a more sick
and evil bastard than Damien Cummings.”

There were several moments of silence, and I
began to wonder if they were going to talk anymore.

“Is it bad that I thank the Universe every
day that he was destroyed? Even though my dad had to die so the
rest of us could live?” The sound of a slight sob entered my mom’s
voice. This wasn’t good. Dad couldn’t stand to see Mom cry about
anything.

“Baby, stop,” my dad crooned. “This is why
I’m always hesitant to bring this stuff up. I know it’s touchy for
you and I don’t want to cause you pain.”

“I know.” More muffled sniffles. I was sure
she was wrapped in my dad’s arms, by now. He’d never let her cry
without comforting her.

“Don’t you miss the connection we had?” Dad
asked softly.

“I still feel like we have a
connection.”

“We do! Of course we do. I’m not trying to
belittle that.” He sighed heavily. “I don’t know how to say this
without sounding like a jerk.”

“Just say it, Vance. You know you can tell
me anything.”

Another long pause stretched on before his
words came quietly. “I miss my witch, Portia. Damn, I sound like
such an ass. I know I still have all the important things with you,
but I’m lying to both of us. That magical connection between us—I
want it back. I want to feel your thoughts and emotions swirling
around inside my head, again. I want to be with you physically, and
have that connection wide open between us. I want to feel the tug
of our binding spell, tying us together so tightly that it hurts to
be apart. When I sucked the magic out of you, I lost such a huge
part of what I love about you.” Another pause. “Shit. I sound like
a first class idiot. Just forget I said any of this. You’re enough
for me the way you are right now. None of this is coming out
right.”

“Don’t walk away from me,” my mom said. “You
have nothing to be ashamed of. You’re speaking from your heart. And
if it makes you feel any better, then yes, I miss all those things
with you, too. But if the choice is to have my magic or have my
family, for me the choice is clear.”

“And I understand that. All I’m saying is
that I want your blessing to keep looking for a way to get that
back. Kyle has been helping me do some research and we’ve come up
with some ideas. But I need some of your blood to test things on
first. If your blood overreacts to the magic, we will know we can’t
reintroduce it to you.”

Again, there were several moments of
silence.

“Fine. I’ll give you some of my blood, but
only if you’ve told me everything I need to know. Are you keeping
any other secrets from me?”

“Just one, and it’s in the same vein.”

“Tell me.”

“Your step-grandpa, Hex, is also working on
a new jinn serum to reintroduce to you. He thinks because it was
separate from your regular magic, that it might not cause such a
violent reaction in you.”

“My jinn powers were much stronger than his,
don’t you remember?”

“Yes, but he still believes he can do
this.”

“So, you’re saying you want blood to send to
him in Sedona, too?”

“I am. Are you sure you’re okay with all
this?”

A wry laugh escaped her. “Not even a little.
What if you figure it out? What if you’re successful? You can’t
have forgotten that you crave my blood above all else. If you
reinstate my powers, I’m a sitting duck. If you drink from me,
you’ll be reestablishing that blood lust connection. Is that what
you really want? To constantly be tempting yourself with the very
thing you’ve worked all these years to avoid completely? Synthetic
blood or not, the fact remains that you’re still a demon warlock
and you thrive on the blood of fresh-blooded witches.”

“I’ve been living with a fresh-blooded
witch—one that smells surprisingly like you—for the last eighteen
years. I haven’t bitten her once.”

“Tell me the truth, Vance. How many times
have you fantasized about drinking from our daughter?”

“Don’t be sick!” Disgust radiated through
his voice. “I have never thought about hurting her—ever. Not since
that moment of surprise and weakness right after she was born.”

“You trained her awfully hard; and I know it
was to protect her from you. That suggests you fantasized about
her.”

“I fantasize about you, dammit! Are you
happy, now? Her smell reminds me of you. If anything, it makes me
remember drinking from you and how that made me feel. I’d never
hurt Kenna. Never!”

A defeated sigh escaped my mom. “I believe
you. But you just proved my point. Are you really sure you can
survive with two fresh-blooded witches in the house?”

“Let’s ask your grandma’s coven—who, I might
remind you, I’ve been living around for years and have yet to drink
from, except for blood they’ve supplied during emergencies. I can
do this, Portia. Trust me. Things are much better for me, now, than
they were back then, and I still managed to keep it under control.
Please just let me try this. Can you imagine what it would be like
to do actual magic with your daughter? Not just tell her about it
or show her what to do, but to actually participate in it with her?
She’s incredible, baby. You’d love feeling how strong her powers
are.”

“I’ve seen how talented she is.”

“She gets it from you, you know.”

“How do you figure?”

“Because I still have mine.” He teased, and
I heard a playful slap against his arm.

“There’s that spousal abuse making an
appearance, again.”

“Whatever! I know that didn’t even hurt you.
It probably felt like a fly landing on this big ole bicep.”

Something between a growl and chuckle
escaped my dad. “If you like that big muscle I have others I’d be
happy to show you.”

This was my cue to leave . . . and
to avoid the kitchen area for as long as possible. I was headed for
the grand staircase when the doorbell rang, so I altered my course
to answer it.

“Oh. Hi, Kyle,” I said, swinging the door
open wider so the handsome, dark haired doctor could step inside.
Dr. Kyle Peck, who was also a fresh-blooded warlock, was like
family. Dad met him while doing his internship in medical school,
and the two had formed a fast friendship. Once Kyle found out about
my dad’s condition, he wanted to help him find an easier way of
life that wouldn’t require him to drink blood from other witches.
Together they invented a synthetic blood that kept my dad from
having to drink real blood.

When I asked my parents to let me go to high
school, Kyle had encouraged them to let me try it. He even helped
dad pick the location and then decided to join us, as well,
settling for a job at the same nearby Boston research facility as
my Dad. In addition to their blood research, they’d worked together
on many different types of serums for multiple diseases. I knew
their work had been very influential in helping many sick people.
Kyle was also helping on Dad’s “secret” project—looking for ways to
reintroduce my mom’s magic back to her.

“Is your dad home?” he asked.

“He’s in the kitchen . . . uh
. . . with my mom.”

Kyle raised his hand in a gesture for me to
stop. “Say no more. I understand. I’ll be sure to call out before
entering.”

Giggling, I rolled my eyes and he nodded
with a smile. He knew the drill. If my parents were alone together,
one should always announce themselves before entering a room, just
to make sure the coast was clear.

Going up the giant staircase, I entered my
bedroom and placed the stack of schoolbooks I’d acquired on the
desk, and sat down. Sighing, I stared at myself in the mirror
behind it. What an intense day. And now I was going to fight a guy.
What could be weirder?

Glancing at the clock, I decided I better
dive into my homework or I wasn’t going to get to go anywhere.

Chapter Six

I was pacing by the time the doorbell rang
and practically vaulted down the stairs to get it. Yet, my dad
still managed to beat me to the punch. Grinning wickedly, he
grabbed the knob and swung it open, revealing Seth standing there
looking very fine in a t-shirt that showed off the muscles in his
arms and chest. His hands were shoved in his jeans and he looked a
little nervous.

Immediately, I felt my dad’s hackles rise
and a strange force enveloped him.

“Dad, this is Seth Masterson,” I said,
trying to break up the energy in the air. “Seth, this is my dad,
Vance.”

“You can call me Mr. Mangum,” my dad said in
a no-nonsense tone and I had to force myself not to roll my eyes.
What was the deal with him?

“Mr. Mangum. Pleased to meet you.” Seth
extended his hand, which my dad simply stared at for several
moments. It wasn’t until Seth started to pull his hand back that
Dad suddenly reached out and grabbed it. Shaking it slowly, he
maintained contact as he heavily scrutinized my new friend.

“What are your plans with my daughter?” he
asked; and I could tell his grip was growing tighter. I suddenly
had a vision of my dad melting Seth with his powers as he stood
right there in the doorway.

“Dad. Enough.” I broke in, shoving myself
between them so it interrupted their handshake. “I already told you
he asked me to dinner. What time do you want me home by?”

“
You’re ruining my fun.”
His voice
entered my head.

“
Be nice,”
I replied in the same
fashion.

“It’s a school night, so I think ten o’clock
is plenty late. Midnight on weekends.”

“Thanks. I’ll be home by ten, then.” Moving
back inside, I grabbed my bag from the table in the entryway and
skipped out the door, hooking my arm through Seth’s and dragging
him out of the line of fire . . . literally.

“Take care of her, Seth. Bring her home in
the same condition you found her.”

“Uh, yes sir,” Seth responded as I continued
dragging him down the sidewalk to his car. He had enough presence
of mind to open the door for me, something I was sure would earn
him brownie points. My dad was very old school that way.