Lying on my back, I look up at the rafters.
The sound of rain hammering the tin roof is all I can hear.
I sit and look at my surroundings.
I’m in a barn.
Piles of hay and broken farming machinery line the wooden walls.
As I move, my body cries out in pain. But I have to get to my feet.
It’s all I can think to do.
The floor’s slick, making me slip as I stand.
I see the door! Ten metres or so away.
With my first step, I lose my balance completely and slam down onto my hip with a heavy thud, screaming an obscenity as I go.
But I won’t give in. I’m getting out of here.
Putting all my weight on my hands, I hang my head trying desperately to muster the strength to get back on my feet.
‘One last push… come on, Lilly, you can do this!! On your knees…that’s it, now push up. There… good girl.’
My pep talk pushes me on. Getting me closer and closer to the door.
Talking to myself. The first sign of madness, so Harry says.
I’m well past that!
I wipe my hands on my shirt to clean them, but it’s pointless.
I’m absolutely covered. The floor is too. I’m surrounded by a thick river of red.
With a deep readying breath, I turn my attention once more to the door ahead of me.
Why does blood have to be so fucking slippery?
I jerk awake from my recurring nightmare, and as I lie here, I feel something I’ve never felt before. Fresh, clean, crisp sheets. I’m in bed. A large, comfortable, but unfamiliar bed.
The events of the previous night crash like a horror movie into my brain. The violence, the fire…Grayson and his men. Harry and Christa’s death. Grayson and the kiss! Oh no… who’s bed am I in? It takes me a moment to get the courage to roll over and look.
Empty. I’m alone. But where?
All I know is I’m in a dark and reasonably large room that’s in an immaculate condition. There’s everything you would expect to find in a bedroom. A double bed, wardrobe, dressing table and bedside cabinet. All the furniture looks antique and very, very expensive. There’s a closed door to my right and another straight ahead of me. I can feel my magic, so I’m not bound. Not defenceless. That’s something.
There’s a small digital clock on the bedside table telling me it’s three in the morning, and a bedside lamp by my head casting a low glow in the room. Next to that is a large glass of water with a couple of white pills and a note.
The pills are painkillers.
The kitchen is downstairs if you get hungry. Second door on your right.
I’ll be back to check on you in the morning.
Gx
I swipe up the pills and swallow them down with the entire contents of the glass. It’s no good, I need more water. My mouth’s beyond parched, and I ache everywhere. I notice my wrists have been wrapped neatly in white bandages, and I’m wearing boxers and a large black T-shirt with short sleeves. I’ve been strip washed and put in men’s clothes. My hair seems to have been rinsed and pulled back in a rough ponytail. I’m suddenly feeling very vulnerable at the idea of Grayson undressing me while I’m unconscious.
Who does he think he is? Why would he think that’s okay?
My palm slaps my forehead.
I kissed him!
Stupid girl…stupid, foolish girl!
That’s a great impression to give him. What must he think of me? I’m a crazy murdering psycho that will kiss you as a way of saying thanks…that’s what.
The last thing I remember after our kiss is him sliding me into the front seat of his car, buckling my seat belt and driving me away from the burning rubble that was once my home. After that…nothing.
Slowly and on shaky legs, I make my way to the door on my right. Cautiously I open it, flick on the light and see it’s a bathroom with a toilet, shower and sink. I rush over to the sink and drink till my belly’s full. But it growls fiercely as I shake with hunger.
I need food.
But I can’t go out there dressed like this! I don’t know who’s out there or what they want with me. I open the wardrobe door and inwardly cry when I find it empty. My already overwhelming sense of vulnerability is pushed into overdrive by my severe lack of clothing.
I go to the second door and rest my hand on the doorknob for a ridiculous amount of time. I have to tell myself to stop biting my lip before I chew it off. Fuck it! I have my magic and besides, what else could possibly happen to me that hasn’t already?
I pull it open and head outside.
Stepping out into a massive hallway, my mouth literally opens in a well-formed O. This place is unreal! The clean white walls are a stark contrast to the dark mahogany beams in the high ceiling, and there are three long spiralling clear crystal chandeliers with black pendants dangling below, all equally spaced from one end of this seemingly endless hallway to the other.
My uncle’s house was big, but this…this is mind-blowing! My bare feet are cold on the wood, but I’m too engrossed in taking in all this beauty to care. As I walk, the top of the staircase comes into view, and with a quick glance back I take a mental note of which one of the many doors belongs to the room I just left.
The walls are decorated with stunning pieces of art. As I walk, I admire the various landscapes and portraits hanging above the carved wooden panels which follow the hall all the way to the stairs. I look down nervously to see if anyone is below. But I don’t see anyone. The stairs turn three times before reaching the ground floor, and there’s another flight of stairs further along the hall leading up to yet another landing. I take a nervous step back and clumsily knock into a small round pillar displaying a blue vase with a dragon and phoenix painted on each side. I hold my breath waiting for it to crash to the floor.
It wobbles but steadies.
Above it is a painting I actually recognise. The red and yellow poppies against the dark background was one of Mr Simmons’s favourite pieces. He would spend hours trying to recreate it, but could never get it close. I lean in, seeing the brush strokes he never achieved and with it, the small signature at the bottom.
‘Fuck me!’ I gasp, realising what I’m actually looking at.
‘Maybe you could buy me a drink first?’
Every nerve explodes at the unfamiliar voice. My reaction sparks my magic and as I spin around to see who’s behind me, the blue vase soars through the air.
‘Whoa!’ A man laughs, catching it just before it slams into his face. ‘Easy there. Grayson’s not too keen on people playing catch with seventy-five grand’s worth of ugly vase.’
He lowers the vase that’s obstructing his face, returns it back to the pillar, and looks at me with a smile.
His straight, almost black hair falls over his electric blue eyes which shine even in this dull light. He brushes his hand through his tousled hair in a failed attempt to tame it. He has the same hard jawline as Grayson but no stubble, and he’s built just like him. He’s younger, mid-twenties maybe. And he has a cheeky half-smile that makes my heart flutter. As he stands there in black joggers, barefoot and bare-chested, my cheeks flush. My eyes linger on his six-pack and perfectly formed body before he clears his throat snapping me back to his amazingly beautiful face. The corner of his mouth twitches further into his half-smile, and he holds a hand out for me to shake.
‘Hello. I’m Gabriel.’
‘Like the angel?’ I whisper like a fool.
‘Yeah,’ he chuckles. ‘Like the angel. No one’s likened me to an angel before.’
But he bloody is! He’s beautiful!
‘So, I told you my name. You’re supposed to say your name now. Or you could carry on gawking. If you prefer.’
What the hell’s wrong with me? I’m just staring at him like a stunned mute.
‘Gawking it is, then,’ he laughs, retracting his hand before slowly walking towards me. I instinctively back away. Each step he takes forward, I take one back until my heel doesn’t feel the floor anymore and I fall backwards. With a small yelp, I reach out to stop myself from falling down the stairs, but there’s nothing to grab except air.
Shit! I’m going down!
‘Woah!’ He reaches out and wraps his fingers around my wrist. I’m pulled back to safety and land in his arms. My hands are gripping his shoulders so tight my fingertips are white. ‘Are you alright?’ he asks. When I don’t answer, he leans down to my face. ‘Are you alright?’ he asks again with that smile still firmly in place. His eyes look straight into mine, unblinking and beautiful. I’m stunned into this ongoing silence.
I nod and drag my eyes away, staring instead at my hands.
My hands which are touching his skin. This isn’t right!
I let him go and take a small step back creating some distance between us. After a minute of unbelievably awkward silence, he walks around me, intentionally giving me plenty of room. His eyes don’t leave me until he reaches the stairs and starts walking down them, his hand stroking the dark mahogany bannister as he goes.
‘I’m heading to the kitchen for a drink and some food.’ He turns back and looks at me over his shoulder. ‘You’re welcome to join me if you like. Unlike Hendrix, I don’t bite.’
I follow him down, despite the voice of reason inside my head screaming, “Hide! Run away!”
∞∞∞
The grandness of upstairs is a shadow of what it is down here. The entrance hall is magnificent! Beside the stairs is an enormous white marble fireplace. To my left, there are two sets of double doors an equal distance apart and straight ahead of me with stain glass panels is another set of double doors that lead out to a further entrance hall and the front door. To my right is yet another set of doors, these ones are thick and heavy. In the centre of this vast space is a long wooden table decorated with a vase of red Calla lilies. The hall carries on further behind me bending to the right, and I can hear the clinking of glass coming from that direction. I follow the sound keen to find the mysterious Gabriel. I walk across the lobby and as Grayson said in his note, the second door on the right leads into the kitchen. It’s a large and rustic room with white walls and exposed wooden beams. The wood floors end here and change into grey stone slabs. In the centre of the room is a large fitted island with several tall stools surrounding it. The patio doors beyond the island lead out into a garden which is shrouded in darkness and behind me is another fireplace made entirely of bare bricks which take up almost the whole wall. The units are light wood with granite surfaces, and standing by the sink pouring us a drink with his back to me is Gabriel.
He turns, holding two glasses of amber liquid in his hands.
‘You like whiskey?’ He perches himself on one of the stools before sliding a drink over to me. ‘Everyone likes whiskey. Come sit with me.’ He takes a slow sip and runs his fingers through his hair once more, gesturing for me to join him. I sit, taking the tumbler in my hands and hitching my t-shirt down as far as it will go. I sip the whiskey, wishing he’d given me something to eat instead.
As if on cue, my stomach gives an enormous growl.
‘Hungry, huh? I can fix that.’ Gabriel gets to his feet and opens the fridge door. ‘We have chicken, apples, chocolate…’ He starts grabbing various things before returning to the stool next to unload them all. ‘Eat. As much as you like.’
I can’t actually remember eating a fresh piece of fruit. It’s been years. I eat grapes, an apple, a chicken leg and then turn my attention to the bar of chocolate.
‘God, that’s really good,’ I groan in delight. ‘Chocolate. Actual chocolate.’ He watches with satisfaction.
‘Want anything else?’ he asks.
‘No. Thank you. It’s been a really long time since I’ve eaten anything without mould growing on it. Thank you, Gabriel.’
He gives a small polite nod. ‘My pleasure, Lilly.’
‘You know my name?’
‘Grayson told me when he brought you home last night,’ he says, dunking his finger in a jar of chocolate spread and sucking it clean.
‘Last night?’ I look at the clock above the door. It’s almost five in the morning. ‘How long was I asleep?’
‘You passed out in Grayson’s car on the way home and slept all day. He tried to stay awake so you could see a familiar face when you woke up, but he was tired. Collins too. I said I would wait up for you instead. I hope you don’t mind.’ His vivid blue eyes flick quickly over the scars on my arms and the bandages around my wrists. I lower them down onto my lap feeling far too exposed. ‘So…’ he says with a forced cheeriness noticing my discomfort. ‘What do you think of The Orchard?’
‘The what?’
He opens his arms wide, ‘The Orchard. It’s the name of the estate.’
‘It’s beautiful.’ I tell him with complete sincerity. ‘I feel like I’m making it a mess by being in it.’
‘Nonsense. I saw you admiring the painting upstairs. Do you enjoy art?’ he asks.
‘Not particularly. But it’s not every day you see a real Van Gogh hanging in someone’s hall.’
‘Most people think it’s a copy.’ He shrugs, breaking off a bit of the chocolate and putting it in his mouth.
‘That painting’s worth-’
‘About four million,’ he says casually. ‘Yeah. I know.’
‘It’s also been missing for the last seven years. It’s stolen.’
‘I won’t tell if you won’t.’ He winks and I feel myself redden again, making him give a small chuckle.
‘Who washed me?’ I ask looking down once more at my bare legs. ‘Because I didn’t say anyone could wash me or undress me.’
‘Grayson did.’
I huff and shake my head, wrapping my arms around me protectively as I do.
‘To be fair, Lilly. You were in a bit of a mess. He burned what you were wearing while cursing your uncle to hell for what he did to you.’
‘He told you about that?’ I complain, hating that suddenly everyone seems to be helping themselves to my life. And my body. ‘What did he say?’
He goes to speak when a light from outside suddenly turns on and the door leading out to the garden opens. I jump to my feet on high alert and back up behind Gabriel as Hendrix skulks in. He closes the door and gives the slightest nod in our direction.
‘Gabriel.’
‘Hendrix,’ Gabriel replies. I can hear their mutual disinterest.
He walks past and his eyes settle on me. ‘I see you’ve met Little Witch. Glad you’re awake, finally,’ he drawls, looking me up and down making my blood run cold. He doesn’t look away until he disappears through the door. I want to wash his stare off me.
‘He’s disgusting, but he won’t hurt you. No one here will hurt you and not because you could turn them into a human torch,’ Gabriel adds with a light-hearted laugh, but I don’t share the joke. I see my aunt and uncle burning at his words and shake away the image from my mind. ‘Sorry. I have a dark sense of humour. But seriously, you’re perfectly safe here.’
I give a small unsure nod and lean against the counter with a sigh.
‘I killed my aunt and uncle,’ I whisper sadly. ‘What kind of person does that?’
I look at him as if he can answer me. Now I’m out, I feel awful about what I did.
‘Hey, no. Don’t do that. Grayson and Collins told me how they found you.’ My eyes start to brim with sad little tears. When one spills over and tumbles down my cheek, he gets to his feet and settles his hand on mine with a concerned furrow on his brow. ‘Killing those people was not your mistake. Not making them suffer for the rest of their days was your mistake. Don’t you feel bad for what you did. They deserved it. And a lot more besides.’
‘You’re a Witch too, aren’t you?’ I ask quickly, steering the conversation away from murder.
He wipes my tear as another falls. ‘How did you know?’
I hold my hand an inch from his chest watching it intently.
‘Because I can feel it.’
‘Feel it?’
I move my fingers as if playing with the air. ‘There’s a hum around you. The air vibrates. It does with Grayson and Collins too. But not with Hendrix.’ Whatever it is weaves between my fingers as I move them. ‘It feels really beautiful around you.’ I smile fondly at the feeling.
‘That’s not the only thing that’s beautiful,’ he says. I look at him with surprise. ‘I-I’m so sorry,’ he stammers. ‘I am being way too over familiar. And after everything you’ve been through, the last thing you need is some stranger-’
‘D-did you just call me beautiful?’
‘Noticed that, huh? And you’re sensing my magic,’ he tells me, sliding his fingers between mine. ‘I wish I could feel it. It’s supposed to be an incredible feeling.’
‘I can’t feel it around Hendrix.’
‘You wouldn’t. He’s not a Witch. He’s a vampire,’ he explains. ‘The only vampire left actually. Grayson said you can make fire and move things. Is there anything else you can do?’
‘No. That’s the lot. What about you?’ I ask.
‘You want to see?’ Suddenly he’s excited.
I give him a smile and a nod. Just before he speaks, his eyes darken. The whites disappear entirely, and those ocean blue eyes are replaced by blackness. It’s horrible.
‘Lilly…stand on one leg!’ My leg shoots up off the floor, and I can’t lower it at all. ‘Touch your nose,’ he says.
Again, my body follows his instructions, and I stand there with one leg up and my finger resting on my nose. He waves his hand casually; his eyes return to startling blue, and I get control over my body back.
He can control people?! That’s a power no one should have. The blood drains from my face as I start backing away and his excitement disappears altogether.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.’ He raises his hands in a bid to show me he means no harm. ‘I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I’ve made you uncomfortable.’
‘Is it just actions?’ I ask, my mouth suddenly dry. ‘Or can you make people think whatever you want them to? Are you using it on me now?’ I’m backing away, and his face gets more distressed at my reaction.
‘No!’ he insists. ‘I swear I’m not. You knew what was happening and you remember it completely-’
‘Don’t do that to me again.’ I want it to come out as a warning, but it sounds more like a plea. If some of the people I’d known in my past had that ability…god, help us all!
‘I won’t. I swear.’ He rests his hand on his heart before backing away. ‘I will never use it on you again. You have my word. Please, forgive me?’ I watch him, nervous to move or say anything else.
‘Gabriel?’ comes a soft, delicate voice. I look up and see a pretty blonde woman about my age wearing nothing but a T-shirt and hopefully some underwear. She sees me and stops. Her placid features harden for a brief moment. ‘I wondered where you’d gone. Who’s this?’
‘This is Lilly. A friend of Grayson’s,’ he explains.
‘Lucky Grayson,’ she says, gliding through the kitchen and pouring herself a glass of water before turning to Gabriel and giving him a small lingering kiss on his cheek. Her perfectly tanned legs and unmarked skin annoy me. She tucks her long straight hair behind her ear and flicks her hazel eyes in my direction.
‘I’m Ava,’ she says. ‘A close friend of Gabriel’s.’
‘I told you to stay upstairs tonight,’ he says a little coldly to her. ‘You want me to call you a cab home or something?’
‘Nope,’ she giggles, leaning in and whispering something into his ear. Her eyes glance at me for a second as she does and I know she’s claiming him as hers.
He leans back from her. ‘Just…go back to bed. I’ll be up soon. Okay?’
‘You better,’ she smirks, biting her lower lip and running her manicured fingers along his arm before leaving us alone once more.
‘I’m sorry. That wasn’t what it looked like,’ he tells me quickly. ‘She’s just a friend. No one special-’
‘It’s none of my business,’ I reply. ‘If you need to go-’
‘I don’t. Honestly, she’s a friend.’ He stands with me and keeps smiling.
‘To be honest, I could really use some alone time.’
‘I would have thought you would have had enough of that.’ He attempts humour. I don’t think it’s funny in the slightest and his smile starts to slip. ‘Let me take you back to your room at least.’
‘No,’ I say quickly. ‘I would like to stay here. In the open where I can see an exit if needed.’
‘An exit?’
‘Gabriel, I really don’t want to seem rude. But I’m completely overwhelmed and really very frightened right now. And in my case, that can sometimes be a lethal combination. Please, go back to your girlfriend and-’
‘She’s not my girlf-’
‘Gabriel, please. I really would rather you left.’
‘It was my magic, wasn’t it?’ he asks sadly. ‘I freaked you out.’
‘This is all freaking me out. Please…I’d really like it if you could leave so I can just have a moment to acclimatise.’ I’m getting tired of repeating myself.
‘Okay then.’ He swallows hard and walks around me. ‘It’s been a pleasure to meet you. And I’m sorry if I made things awkward.’ He gives me a small formal bow and makes for the door.
‘Wait!’ I call when he’s almost gone. He stops and turns, looking hopeful that I’ve changed my mind. ‘You said it’s just actions you control, so anything I feel is me feeling it…right?’
He nods as his frown deepens. ‘What’s on your mind?’
With a deep breath, I nervously ask, ‘Can I touch you?’
‘What?’ He stands a little straighter. ‘What do you mean, touch me?’
‘Like, can I put my hand on your shoulder?’
He returns and takes my hand in his so he can place it flatly over his heart.
‘Help yourself,’ he whispers in my ear.
I lay my hand on his chest feeling his heart beating frantically and rest my other hand on his shoulder.
‘Nothing…’ I breathe, looking up at him, confusion etched on my face. ‘How can that be?’
‘Charming,’ he grumbles with an eye roll.
‘I didn’t mean it like that, it’s just… never mind.’ That was embarrassing. I resume my seat, intentionally avoiding his stare which I can feel burning a hole in my back. He’s still there. I can sense him. The vibrations in the air increase and I feel the warmth of his breath on my neck making every hair on my body stand to attention.
‘It’s been really nice meeting you, Lilly,’ he murmurs in my ear before he leans in and gently plants a small kiss on my cheek. ‘Welcome to The Orchard. I think you’ll really love it here.’
I turn and see his beautiful eyes taking me in. I could get lost in that shade of blue. Which is precisely why he needs to leave.
‘Good night, Gabriel,’ I whisper.
‘Goodnight, Lilly.’
He leaves me alone with a horrifying realisation.
I touched his skin…and it didn’t hurt!
Only one other person has had that effect on me.
Toby.
