“My mother also said to never speak ill of the dead. You apparently disagree on that front too.” She snapped at Mariah. She also told you to mind your elders, Sophie's conscious chastised her quietly in her mind making her feel guilty for her quick reaction and hot temper.
There were startled silences and stunned faces around the room. Giovanni looked down at her with respect in his grey eyes and pulled her hip protectively against his own. The touch of his hand around the back side of her waist made her heart jump a few beats. Tingles prickled her skin and sent a shiver up her spine. She wanted to curl herself up in his arms and show her appreciation for his support, but there were more pressing matters at hand.
Gio was shocked at the electricity that shot through him from their first touch. He hadn’t meant to pull her close, not in front of the council and her father, but he couldn’t help himself. Her honey scent was intoxicating. Her body was inviting and he could imagine all the wonderful things he would do to cause pleasure to escape those mischievous lips; lips that were all too happy to make snappy statements. She had a feisty spirit. He liked that. So many people bowed down to formality around him, but she hadn’t, not in the least. And when she spoke her mind to her elder it took bravery, very few argued with Mariah.
“I remember a time when I healed a bird in the backyard. It was instinct that took hold and made it possible. I was never taught anything.” She reluctantly pulled away from Giovanni. His closeness was making her weak, allowing her to rely on his strength when she needed her own at the moment. If she’d stayed much longer she would’ve melted into his arms and forgotten the issue at hand. She turned to Christopher with a newfound resolve, courage she never knew she had, and belief in something she didn’t want to believe in. It would be so easy to walk away, but that wasn’t the kind of person she was. Despite her mother’s pleas she was a caring person who only wanted to help people, and she couldn’t change that core instinct in her. “I know your sister isn’t a bird and I may not be able to help at all, but while we’re waiting for another healer to come, perhaps I can try?”
“I’m confused. I thought you said you didn’t have any powers?” Christopher eyed her suspiciously-the man was short on trust. Sophie didn’t blame him. She wasn’t sure she could do anything either but at least she could try.
“The coven unlocked her powers today. She won’t be at full strength until the new moon but she should begin to get her powers back little by little until then.” Chelsea offered in Sophie's defense.
“Bring your sister here so Chelsea and Mariah can help. If I know my daughter she'll do everything within her power to help your sister.” Sophie’s father invited. His voice was warm, but his eyes held a darkness to them that Sophie had never seen before. The slightest touch of distrust.
“And while the witches work on saving your sister you can explain what happened. There’s still the matter of who is responsible for the attack on your sister.” Giovanni pointed out, a little hurt by Sophie's withdrawal, but he also understood. If he had half the impact on her as she had on him she'd be unable to concentrate on anything but the desire rising between them. Even now, when he needed to focus on the issue at hand, the half truths the Nephilim hunter was giving, all he could do was imagine how Sophie tasted. His lips on hers, her hands on him. Her body…
“As well as why there are nephilim in Mystery Springs without an introduction to the council.” Luke snarled, arms crossed over his chest which made his biceps seem even thicker than before. He was a formidable sight. A man that seemed larger than life and stronger than those muscle men on television. There was also a wildness about him. Sophie briefly wondered what kind of power the werewolf yielded.
Christopher nodded as he headed toward the door. Harmony stepped in his path. “You’ll stay. Call someone to bring her.”
“There’s no one.”
“Then I’ll accompany you.” She advised politely.
“As will I.” Logan added as he started to head toward the door. “We’ll take my car.” And with that the three of them left.
Sophie was pulled to the kitchen to discuss the plan by her father, Mariah, and Chelsea.
Anastacia, Luke, Bella, Eric, AnnaBella and Giovanni were more concerned with the appearance of a new supernatural group in Mystery Springs and they decided to talk strategy.
Chapter Five
Sophie spent hours at Tiffany’s bedside. She could ease Christopher’s sister’s pain by taking some of it onto herself, but even that seemed futile. It was a dance only a masochist could appreciate. She’d feel Tiffany’s pain, channel some of the pain into her own body, only to feel the pain return shortly after she worked it out of her own system. After hours of enduring the dangerous dance, soaked with sweat, exhausted from pain, she realized one thing; healing a human on her way to death was far more complicated than healing an injured bird.
She also realized something else. Somewhere in this messy situation she started to realize this was reality, she wasn't creating a fantasy or living in a dream. This was real. Tiffany's life was truly in danger. And somewhere locked deep inside her, was the power she could use to help save the girl's life. It was a frustrating problem and one she wished with all her heart she could fix.
"You will be a very powerful witch someday, Sophia." A woman's soft voice spoke behind her.
Sophie hadn't been called Sophia in a very long time. It was her mother's name for her, and she only used it in special moments between the two of them. Even her father didn't know about it. Sophie turned from Tiffany's side and saw the source of the voice. A beautiful woman with long, flowing earth brown hair kissed with highlights by the sun. Her skin was olive with a golden tan. Her sky blue eyes seemed to sparkle like the stars in the night sky. She wore a pair of jean overalls and red t-shirt. She placed a bouquet of flowers on the bedside table. The flowers were a spicy and sweet blend, and completely intoxicating.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Sophie asked a question she already knew the answer to. She had no idea who the woman standing before her was.
The woman smiled and shook her head. "Not in the physical sense, but I've met you hundreds of times in your dreams. You can call me Dee."
The name and the woman's face had a familiarity to them but she couldn't quite place where she heard of or seen her before. "Well, it's nice to meet you in person. My name is actually Sophie, not Sophia."
"Your mother told me to use that name, she hoped it would loosen some memories in your mind."
"My mother is dead." Sophie felt her temper rising. Couldn’t people let her soul rest in peace?
"But she isn't gone." Dee responded tenderly.
"My father said she's moved on." Sophie felt a small inkling of hope that she could see her mother again.
"She isn't outside my reach."
"So you're a witch?" Sophie asked, "A guardian like my father?"
"Of sorts." She placed a callused hand on Sophie's shoulder. "I'm not here to talk about your mother."
"But..."
"She'll make herself present if she decides to, otherwise you must respect her choices." Dee interrupted Sophie from her rebuttal.
She wanted to argue, but deep down knew it wasn't a smart thing to do at the moment. "So why are you here?"
Dee gestured toward the colorful bouquet on the nightstand. "To deliver flowers. You both could use a little cheering up." A compassionate smile touched Dee's lips.
"Both of us?" Sophie reached out and touched one of the baby blue petals. It was velvety soft and she pulled it out of the vase disrupting the soft pink flower it rested on. "I'm not sick."
"No, but you are troubled." Dee's voice was soft as she rearranged the pink, blue and green flowers.
Sophie nodded her head. "Yes, I want to help her so much and I don't have the strength." Her shoulder dropped in defeat. "I can't watch another person die. Not so soon after losing my mother."
Dee's hands stilled on the flowers. "That is an understandable viewpoint and with the ris
k to your own health, very honorable, but..."
"Yes?" Sophie found she was hanging on the older witches' every word. She exuded a level of power that made people stand up and take notice and her charisma. Her charm was unmatched. She only knew one other person that snatched her attention the way this woman did and that was Giovanni. Her appearance did little to distract from the power of her knowledge and the strength in her eyes.
"Well, it isn't my place to tell you what to do, but I can offer a nugget of wisdom for you to chew on."
"Anything that you think might help would be appreciated."
Dee turned her full attention to Sophie. "From the moment we're born we are on the path to death. Every choice we make, right or wrong, brings us closer to the inevitable. Every healer has one important choice to make, the same choice you have before you now. A choice you'll have every time you take on a new case to heal. You'll need to decide when to hold on tight and keep fighting or let go and allow the soul to take its rest. Each choice and decision has consequences."
Sophie looked at Tiffany. The pretty blonde girl couldn't be much older than she was. Her skin was pale and dark circles surrounded her closed eyes. Her body was bloody and bruised, and Sophie knew the girl was experiencing pain because she took some of that pain into her own body to help alleviate the discomfort. "Death isn't ready for her." She forced determination in her words that wasn't really there in either Sophie’s or Tiffany's body. She wasn't going to let another person die if she could save her.
When Sophie looked up to tell Dee her decision the beautiful woman in dirty jean overalls was gone. She looked toward the door. It was closed. How did she disappear so quickly without a sound? She must have left while Sophie was focused on Tiffany.
She needed some time to recover before she started working on Tiffany again. On shaky legs, she took her leave, needing to put some space between her and the difficult situation the girl was in. It would be days before the new moon hit the sky, days before she'd gain possession of her untrained powers, days she didn't think the nephilim's sister had.
Instead of retreating to her room she decided to go outside for some fresh air. The moon was high in the sky and she’d always felt a close affiliation to the silver orb that lit the night. Council members and Christopher had set up stakes in the living area of her home and sneaking past them unnoticed was a tiny challenge, but she really had no desire to be bombarded with questions of how the human was doing.
It wasn’t until she got out the door and was surrounded by the crisp night air that she finally took the breath she didn’t even know she was holding. The soft breeze cooled her skin and dried her hair. She closed her eyes, enjoying the oneness with nature, the elements. It was like she was more connected to them now than ever before.
This had been one of the most traumatic days of her life, second only to the night her mother passed away. The weight of the world was closing in around her shoulders and she felt the cold hand of dread squeeze around her neck. In the early hours before the dawn she tried to find her center and refocus her energy. She didn’t have the skills to do what they needed her to do and she was doubtful she’d gain them before more people died. Her best hope was that help would arrive soon.
The question of holding on or letting go - she wondered if that was a burden her mother faced as she went through countless treatments to live. Day after day she must have felt that weighing heavy on her heart. A choice every healer makes. Sophie wondered when Regina made that choice. She remembered one day she was determined to fight and the next day resignation was in her mother's eyes. Things went fast after that. What finally broke her spirit and made her choose to let go? Would Sophie be able to make that decision with her own patients? The worry in her heart was so distracting she didn’t hear the man who joined her on the back porch until his pine scent tackled her senses and drew her in. She knew who it was without even looking and was thankful. “Please don’t ask me any questions about the girl. Her condition hasn’t changed.” Sophie said without turning toward him.
He placed two cold hands on her shoulders. The familiar tingles created a warmth which made his touch almost beyond stimulating. She leaned into his support pulling a little of his alpha strength into her body. How could an innocent touch create such an enticing desire in her? “I didn’t come to ask of the girl. I came to see how you’re holding up.” Giovanni's smooth voice slid over her body like silk wrapping her up in safety and security. A soft sigh escaped her lips.
He fought the urge to taste her and settled for a touch instead. Restraining the demon in his blood was excruciatingly painful and delectably tantalizing-exquisite torture.
Tears pricked the back of her eyes and she fought to keep them under control as she shook her head in answer. He pulled her closer to him, her back against his chest. She expected a chill from his cold skin, but instead the warmth from the tingles created heat between them. Even through the layers of their clothes she felt his warmth. His breath tickled her neck as he spoke. “You’ve no idea the strength within you, do you?”
She pushed the lump forming in her throat down, fearful that if she spoke now her voice would come out raspy. She risked it, “I’m weak.” Her words were filled with disgust for her inability to help the girl. “I haven’t got the strength to help her and I’m afraid if I can’t unlock the power soon we’ll lose her.”
He turned her around abruptly. Shocking her senses. His stormy eyes examining her for the briefest of moments before he spoke. “Your father told me you didn’t even know about this world until today. Most girls would run screaming, call the police – which is a ridiculous venture since the police chief happens to be part of the council, or attack us like that Buffy Vampire Slayer. You acted honorably, risking your own health to help a stranger, accepting the reality of this world with very few questions. You are remarkable, Sophie Waters.”
“Oh, I have questions. I have a whole list of questions I’ll ask when we get through this problem.” She was all too aware of the darkness overtaking his eyes, the heat radiating between them, and her growing desire to kiss his rugged lips. What is wrong with me?
He drew more attention to his lips when he asked, “like what?”
“Huh?” She hated that he could turn her into one of those foolish girls so quickly. She just met him and already he was becoming important to her.
“I said, ask away, I’m an open book.” He put some space between them, sat down on the porch step and patted the space next to him as an invitation to join him.
She considered ignoring his invitation, but her body betrayed her as she sat next to him eagerly, their knees touching, spreading warmth and strength through her. “Why are you still here? I figured a vampire prince would have more important things to do than stay at a witch’s home all night? I mean, the sun will be up soon. You do have a problem with the sun, right?”
He chuckled, a sound she really liked hearing from his lips. "You weren't kidding when you said you had a lot of questions. Let's start with the easy one. Yes, sun exposure can kill me, but I won't die immediately. A vampire's body doesn't just burst into flames the moment a single ray of sun hits him. It's a more gradual process. My body shuts down in daylight, literally. I look and feel dead. I'm alive, but unable to move to get myself to safety. Then the sun's rays would go to work on the body, burning it from the inside out, all the while the vampire is paralyzed and unable to move."
Sophie felt a shiver run through her. "That's horrible."
"It's not a way I plan to die, for sure." He smiled.
"What other ways can you be killed?"
"Well, stakes through the heart don't kill, but they do make it impossible to move. Again, like the sun, a wooden stake in the heart will paralyze a vampire, but not as much as the sun. A strong, elder vampire can still move, although he is greatly impaired with a stake. Not a single vampire can move in the sun. Garlic does nothing to a vampire aside from smell awful. Crosses don't burn when they touch a vampire. But a sure-fire
way to kill a vampire is to cut off his head. Hunters, like Christopher, use firelight swords to decapitate vampires, but any sword will do if the wielder has the strength to take the swing and the swiftness and skill to hit the mark."
"Oh." Sophie couldn't think of anything to say to that. He'd just shared with her how to kill him and also why vampires and nephilim aren't the best of friends.
“As far as your other question, I could lie and say duty keeps me here, but I’ve lived a long time and playing games isn’t something I do anymore.” He looked out over the back yard examining the horizon with interest, pausing to let Sophie absorb his words before he continued. “I’m here because you’ve piqued my interest and I want to find out more about you.” He turned those steely eyes on to hers and her heart skipped a beat while her hand flew unconsciously to her neck in search of the crystal cross she always wore.
He took her hand in his and kissed it gently while a laugh escaped his lips. “I’m not going to bite you, Sophie Waters, unless you want me to.” By the Gods he wanted to bite her, to taste her, to lick every inch of her olive skin. He wanted to possess her and had no idea how to control the urges he was developing for her. He had no idea where they came from, but he knew they were real.