Fate Changer (The Lost Witch Trilogy #3) (10 page)

Zane let go a moment later and then fell back on the ground, panting and gasping for air. Lash stumbled over to his father’s motionless body and moved it with his foot.

Sarah watched as Zane’s memories began to flicker off and on along with his consciousness. Agnes’s dream of them throwing Mason’s body into the ocean was true although Lash did most of it because of Zane’s broken ankle. And then it was blank. Sarah had no idea what Lash had done between that time and the time he had shown up at the door with Zane in his arms, but she was stunned at the shear will power he had to survive. Doing anything with a knife wound to the gut and back couldn’t be easy let alone dispose of a dead body, take care of a friend and then get back home. They were both incredible. Sarah cuddled closer to the man she was wrapped around and shivered at the power he had under his control. Zane was more powerful than anyone had ever realized. Sarah breathed out sadly and sent out more soothing energy one more time before she fell asleep too.

Sarah woke up to Charlie and Teresa standing on either side of the bed, shaking them awake.

“Come on you two, we only have fifteen minutes to get dressed for the service. Hurry!” Charlie urged, nudging Zane’s shoulder one last time before grabbing her mom’s hand and pulling her out of the room.

Sarah groaned and turned to face Zane, who was on his side now and looking at her with a small smile on his face.

“I feel like Humpty Dumpty.”

Sarah frowned and reached out a finger to trace his eyebrow, following the curve of his face down to his chin.

“This time wasn’t so easy Zane. You could have died. The stab wounds to your kidneys and liver were pretty bad. And that broken ankle took everything I had to put back together. Please don’t . . .,” she paused, not knowing what she was asking of him exactly.

Zane put his hand on her waist and reached over to kiss her nose. “
Please don’t protect you?
Sorry, but the answer is no.”

Sarah closed her eyes and felt him pull her closer. She felt melancholy, wishing that they could have just been two normal teenagers complaining about school and planning what to wear to the Halloween Dance next week. Instead, they were dealing with death and power and evil.

“Yeah, normal sounds pretty good right about now,” Zane murmured into her hair before pulling away and standing up. He stood gingerly on his hurt ankle and bounced up and down a little before standing up with a surprised grin.

“All the Kings horses and all the King’s men couldn’t do better than you. It’s sore but I can walk on it. That’s a flat out miracle,” Zane said looking at her in awe.

Sarah stood up and stretched, raising her hands to the ceiling. She yawned before answering over her shoulder, “All part of the package deal, buddy.”

Zane grabbed her from behind and pulled her back against him, but before he could say anything, Agnes peeked her head in the door and gave him a
look
.

“None of that Zane. I would do cartwheels at seeing you up and walking but I just don’t have time. We have to leave in ten minutes, now get a move on,”

Zane gave his grandmother a stern look back for interrupting him, but she swatted him on his rear and smiled as he walked past. Sarah grinned in amusement when Agnes threw her arms around her and hugged her until she squeaked.

“Thanks for healing my boy,” she whispered in her ear before letting her go and walking out.

Ten minutes later, everyone was in their cars heading for the cemetery. Sarah only caught a glimpse of Lash, but he had been laughing at something Teresa had said, so she relaxed and got into the jeep with Zane.

They arrived minutes later at the cemetery and walked over to the casket where Beatrice stood with a few other women and men talking quietly. Beatrice immediately came over to their group as soon as she saw them. She held out her hands to Zane and Sarah and looked at them with gratitude. “Thank you again for protecting Frannie’s home from Charles. It feels clean and good and free. Whatever you did, erased all the evil from every corner. I can feel her there. She’s happy. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you,” she said with tears in her eyes.

Sarah winced and looked away. Zane squeezed her hand in his and spoke for the both of them. “No thanks are needed Beatrice. We did it for Francis.”

Beatrice nodded and burst into tears. Agnes and Gretchen surrounded her immediately and Sarah and Zane decided to join Lash and Charlie and Teresa in the chairs set out for the occasion. It was a brisk, fall day and everyone had jackets or coats on, but the sky was clear and blue and the remaining colorful leaves made the cemetery look beautiful.

Sarah felt tense, not just because Charles might show up, but because commemorating the life of her grandmother broke her heart. Francis died because
she
had brought Charles with her to Maine. Francis died needlessly because
she
and Zane had gone for a run and were careless. But it all came back to her. Francis would be alive if it weren’t for her.

Zane nudged her shoulder with his and frowned at her when she looked up. “That’s not right Sarah. Taking the blame for the evil actions of someone else is a waste of time and emotion and isn’t right. You’ve got enough on your shoulders as it is. Taking on your grandmother’s murder is pointless.”

Sarah shut her eyes and nodded. He was right, so why did she still feel so guilty? The service started moments later and Francis’s friends stood up to talk about different aspects of her life and charitable work. By the end of the service, Sarah wondered what Francis would have thought of it. She smiled knowing she would have enjoyed every second of praise.

As the mourners stood up, a loud cracking sound ripped through the cemetery making everyone jump and a few women scream. Zane reached over and grabbed Sarah’s hand before glancing up at the clear blue sky. “It can’t be lightening,” he said quietly.

Agnes, Gretchen and Beatrice walked over to their side quickly, reaching out and holding onto Sarah’s arms. “Dear, it can only be Charles trying to break through your lines,” Beatrice said quietly as mourners walked past.

Sarah nodded at Beatrice and gazed up at the sky, wincing when another ear splitting glass shredding sound came from right above their heads. She looked up but could see only clear skies.

“Will he be able to get through?” she asked as she concentrated on breathing evenly. Her heart was racing and her hands had gone cold, but to look at her, she was completely calm.

Zane’s arm came around her as Lash and Charlie joined their group. Teresa had run into an old acquaintance and was busy catching up.

Gretchen shuddered as another crack of what sounded like lightening battered their ears. “It doesn’t sound like Charles is making much progress. I think right now, he’s throwing an old fashioned temper tantrum.”

Lash nodded and studied the sky balefully. “He’s pissed off alright.”

Zane smiled coldly at the sky and hugged Sarah tighter. “Let him throw his tantrum. He’s not going to get in.”

Sarah grimaced hoping Zane was right, but knowing even if they were able to keep him out today, someday soon, Charles would figure out a way to get to her.

“
Oh
,” Gretchen said with a sound of distress.

Everyone looked at her to see what had caught her attention. She was staring at the far corner of the cemetery where a lone man was standing behind the iron gates surrounding the cemetery. He stepped closer and put his hands on the metal, only to step back quickly again into the shadows.

Sarah looked at her father, who had been her dad for such a short time. He was trying to come to his grandmother’s service, but was unable to because of Zane’s lines. Beatrice sniffed and turned her back on Race with a sound of disgust. Agnes looked sadly at Race, shook her head in disapproval and turned her back as well. Everyone turned their backs, leaving Gretchen and Sarah the only two, still staring at the lonely man.

Gretchen gently touched Sarah’s arm with her hand. “Let’s go Sarah,” she murmured softly and took her by the hand and led her away. Sarah looked one more time over her shoulder in time to see her father turn and walk slowly away in the opposite direction.

They headed back to the cars in a slow, serious procession, everyone thinking their own thoughts. Beatrice broke the silence before they reached the parking lot.

“Luncheon at the house. I insist. I have a caterer making all of Francis’s favorite foods. Don’t worry, no one else will be there. Just us. Francis would want you there,” she added with a firm smile.

Everyone nodded readily and followed Beatrice down the familiar road to the beach house. Sarah couldn’t help smiling as she walked into the house she had loved so much and headed into the brightly lit and welcoming kitchen. The smell of clam chowder and steaming crab legs caused sounds of approval from everyone.

After everyone got their plates of food, they sat around the breakfast table and talked about their favorite memories of Francis. For Beatrice it was the day she had moved to town, knew no one and had no place to stay.

“Francis walked up to me at the gas station and said,
Well, there you are. I’ve been waiting long enough. Now come with me and we’ll get you settled in
,” Beatrice said, crying as she told the story, but she was smiling too. She didn’t go into the details of the abusive marriage she had run from, but it gave everyone a new perspective on their friendship.

For the rest of them, their memories were more superficial, but still filled with fondness. Lash and Zane even brought up the time Francis had plastered them to opposite walls for their time out. Sarah stayed quiet, but her favorite memory so far of her grandmother was of walking through the hallways just yesterday and feeling her spirit happy and light and free. Zane read her thoughts though and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

“You’re right. She’s happy now.”

Sarah smiled up into his gray eyes but noticed that he still had some faint bruising on one cheek. She reached up a finger and gently touched the blue skin. She rubbed her finger back and forth until it disappeared. She looked up to see Zane looking down at her, looking serious and sad. She caressed his cheek and sent thoughts to his mind.
I’m so sorry you had to experience that.

Zane took her hand in his and kissed her finger tips before he spoke back
. I would do anything to keep you safe Sarah. I love you.

Gretchen watched them carefully and frowned. “When are you and Lash going to tell us what happened last night?” she asked.

Zane’s eyes turned dark gray and he turned to see Lash looking right at him. Even though Gretchen had spoken quietly, the entire kitchen had become silent as everyone waited to see what Zane and Lash would say.

Agnes nodded her head from across the table and pushed her plate away. “She’s right. We need to know what happened. You need to tell us. From the temper tantrum Charles was throwing at the cemetery, he’s back and he’s not happy.”

Zane raised an eyebrow at Lash and Lash nodded his head, giving his acquiescence. Zane cleared his throat and looked at the people surrounding him. He closed his eyes in what looked like a moment of anguish, but when he raised his eyes again, they were clear and unwavering.

“We did what we said we’d do. We hunted Mason down and we killed him,” he said.

The reaction around the table was varied. Charlie gasped, Teresa covered her mouth with her hands in horror. Agnes and Gretchen looked at each other with sad eyes while Lash looked grim but relieved too. Sarah reached over and held Zane’s hand in hers.

“You did what you had to do Zane,” she said on behalf of everyone.

Lash leaned back in his chair, surveying the group and nodded. “We did. Zane and I have agreed that you don’t need all the details. But just know that Mason won’t be able to hurt anyone ever again. This gives Sarah a fighting chance against Charles and it means we won’t have to be watching our backs constantly.”

Zane nodded his head in agreement. “Lash is right. We’re on firmer ground now. We have our lines which are holding perfectly. We’re safe from Mason and now all we have to do is wait him out. He’s laying siege to us, because that’s all he can do to us now.”

Sarah winced. That wasn’t the way she saw it at all. Neither did Agnes from the way she was shaking her head, her long gray and white hair dancing with the motion.

“Zane, don’t fall into the trap of underestimating this man. He’s a monster and he’s obsessed. And now, he’s furious. He’s also incredibly powerful. You’re right, the lines are holding, but that gives us just enough time to come up with a plan before he finds a way to break through and take our girl from us.”

Sarah closed her eyes and nodded in agreement. Agnes was right. Gretchen took a sip of water and tried to smile at her son. “Zane honey, you had to know this couldn’t be fixed so easily. We’re in the fight of our lives. And it’s not over. Last night I had a dream,” she said, biting her lip and looking down at her hands, her long golden hair, hiding her face for a moment.

Zane sat up in his chair, looking tense. “Was it the same? Was she running through the forest? Was she caught?” he demanded, his eyes turning bright silver.

Gretchen looked up and shook her head. “
No
, it’s changed. We’ve changed the future. She’s no longer lost. She’s found. No this dream was different. Sarah’s in a dark room, sitting on a chair and Charles comes in with a knife. Candles surround her and she’s lifted up almost to the ceiling, but then the entire room explodes in light and when it fades, you’re the one lying on the ground.”

Agnes sighed as she watched her daughter’s tormented face. “If we can change fate once, we can change it again. Let’s put your dream on the backburner for now and let’s come up with a plan to end this. None of us want to live the rest of our lives trapped here as much as we enjoy being in Maine. Charles shouldn’t have the power to control us and keep us caged. No, we have to move forward. Lash, it was your idea to go after Mason. What do you think should happen next?”