I’d undone with my magic. A smile starts in my chest and works its way to my face.
That’s right, I’m a badass witch who sneaks out at night busting out healing spells when shit goes sideways. Not exactly the picture I’d drawn of myself just a couple weeks ago while working in cubicle village and hiding behind my best friend when I got afraid.
“Come on, then,” I whisper to the tiger and she takes off towards the garden. Shows what I know. I was gonna follow the driveway out to the road and probably get myself caught in the process. Of course it’s a better idea to go the back way.
It doesn’t take me too long to get to Chapel Hill Cemetery, especially not with the tiger leading the way. Thing is, I’m having a hard time actually going into the Cemetery. I know, it’s just a place. Except it’s a place with dead people and it feels wrong to trespass on the dead. And if I’m being really honest, it’s a little creepy, you know, what with all the dead people. But, I’ve come this far, it’d be foolish to turn back now. But did I mention there are dead people?
The gate’s locked, of course, so I’m going to have to climb the fence. Which I do, and while it’s not the most graceful thing I’ve ever done, it is, in fact, the first time I’ve ever climbed a fence. The tiger leaps over the thing with all her supernatural might and walks ahead of me with the assuredness of a predator amongst prey. I try to emulate her confidence. Because, you know, it’s the most natural thing in the world to break into a cemetery at night and I should exude confidence while I do it.
I follow her up a hill, past rows and rows of headstones until we get to the top. She pauses and looks at me, her great blue eyes shining ever so slightly in the dark. With a mighty sigh she fades from view. Somehow, that sigh speaks of judgement and disappointment, but maybe that’s just me coloring her reaction with my own thoughts and feelings.
“Hey.”
The voice comes from somewhere to my left and I somehow manage not to scream even though I jump out of my skin. I find Luke leaning against a tree, his arms folded across his chest. “Hey,” I manage and head his way, not completely sure what to make of the surge of emotions racing through my body at this moment. I’m thankful that my legs are even holding me up, because they’re all quivery and weird feeling.
“I didn’t think you’d come.” Luke’s still leaning on the tree and his voice is so familiar, so welcome, but his posture is so withdrawn and reticent. This big rush of happy relief floods through me and I remind myself that the memories I have of our time together - his quick laugh, his warm embrace, his probing questions - those were all contrived.
“Why are we here, Luke?” It’s a question, but I say it like a statement. All hard and final, more like an accusation than anything.
His eyes shoot into his hairline and he presses off the tree. “I guess a lot’s changed, huh? They removed the dampening spells Becca had on you?”
I don’t deign to answer his question. “How much did you know about what was going on? How long did you know about it? How …” I want to ask him how much of our relationship was fake, but I’m not sure I really want to know the answer to that question.
Luke throws up his hands. “Look, Zoe, I asked you to meet me so I can apologize to you.”
I wait for him to continue and when he stays silent I sit back on my heel. “I’m listening.” I’m also regretting this decision. All I’m going to get out of this is trouble when I try to get back into Windsor Manor.
“Look, I can’t tell Becca’s story. But I can tell you mine.”
“Funny, that’s just what Noah says about you.”
“You and Noah talk about me?”
“Not much. Noah told me about the ranch. I guessed you were there, too.” I wait for Luke to respond and all I get is a glimpse of his profile glowing in the moonlight as he turns his head to stare off
That’s right, I’m a badass witch who sneaks out at night busting out healing spells when shit goes sideways. Not exactly the picture I’d drawn of myself just a couple weeks ago while working in cubicle village and hiding behind my best friend when I got afraid.
“Come on, then,” I whisper to the tiger and she takes off towards the garden. Shows what I know. I was gonna follow the driveway out to the road and probably get myself caught in the process. Of course it’s a better idea to go the back way.
It doesn’t take me too long to get to Chapel Hill Cemetery, especially not with the tiger leading the way. Thing is, I’m having a hard time actually going into the Cemetery. I know, it’s just a place. Except it’s a place with dead people and it feels wrong to trespass on the dead. And if I’m being really honest, it’s a little creepy, you know, what with all the dead people. But, I’ve come this far, it’d be foolish to turn back now. But did I mention there are dead people?
The gate’s locked, of course, so I’m going to have to climb the fence. Which I do, and while it’s not the most graceful thing I’ve ever done, it is, in fact, the first time I’ve ever climbed a fence. The tiger leaps over the thing with all her supernatural might and walks ahead of me with the assuredness of a predator amongst prey. I try to emulate her confidence. Because, you know, it’s the most natural thing in the world to break into a cemetery at night and I should exude confidence while I do it.
I follow her up a hill, past rows and rows of headstones until we get to the top. She pauses and looks at me, her great blue eyes shining ever so slightly in the dark. With a mighty sigh she fades from view. Somehow, that sigh speaks of judgement and disappointment, but maybe that’s just me coloring her reaction with my own thoughts and feelings.
“Hey.”
The voice comes from somewhere to my left and I somehow manage not to scream even though I jump out of my skin. I find Luke leaning against a tree, his arms folded across his chest. “Hey,” I manage and head his way, not completely sure what to make of the surge of emotions racing through my body at this moment. I’m thankful that my legs are even holding me up, because they’re all quivery and weird feeling.
“I didn’t think you’d come.” Luke’s still leaning on the tree and his voice is so familiar, so welcome, but his posture is so withdrawn and reticent. This big rush of happy relief floods through me and I remind myself that the memories I have of our time together - his quick laugh, his warm embrace, his probing questions - those were all contrived.
“Why are we here, Luke?” It’s a question, but I say it like a statement. All hard and final, more like an accusation than anything.
His eyes shoot into his hairline and he presses off the tree. “I guess a lot’s changed, huh? They removed the dampening spells Becca had on you?”
I don’t deign to answer his question. “How much did you know about what was going on? How long did you know about it? How …” I want to ask him how much of our relationship was fake, but I’m not sure I really want to know the answer to that question.
Luke throws up his hands. “Look, Zoe, I asked you to meet me so I can apologize to you.”
I wait for him to continue and when he stays silent I sit back on my heel. “I’m listening.” I’m also regretting this decision. All I’m going to get out of this is trouble when I try to get back into Windsor Manor.
“Look, I can’t tell Becca’s story. But I can tell you mine.”
“Funny, that’s just what Noah says about you.”
“You and Noah talk about me?”
“Not much. Noah told me about the ranch. I guessed you were there, too.” I wait for Luke to respond and all I get is a glimpse of his profile glowing in the moonlight as he turns his head to stare off
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