Eye of the Storm (The Charmed) (2 page)

Jaden got back into the car and began driving.

“Would a revealing spell work?” Brendan, restless from the drive piped up.

Harley didn’t look back but spoke, “No. It only reveals when it’s needed. I just hope it knows how much we need it.”

Brendan missed Harley. He looked out the window and thought of his parents. His unreasonably difficult parents, the people who announced he was matched with someone just a week ago, with no regard for Harley. He always protected her from them. In all the years they had been together, he made sure his parents had only been around her twice. He knew they would instantly dislike her, he didn’t know however, that they would be so cruel as to arrange a marriage. He had been so shocked by his parents’ admission that he didn’t even stand up for her during the altercation. Harley was hurt, he didn’t blame her and had no idea how to make it right.

They drove around aimlessly for an hour and couldn’t locate the house to save their lives.

“I’ve had it! Jaden, pull over!” Kayla was in the back but standing, ready to open the door.

“Hold on! Let me pull over!” Narrowly missing a man on a horse, Jaden moved the SUV to a side-road he hadn’t seen before.

Kayla jumped out of the SUV. She had on a long skirt, boots, thin tank top and a bad attitude. She stormed away from the car. “We’re walking.”

Brendan, standing by the car placed his hands on his hips and said, “Excuse me? We’ve already been over this place three times, what is walking going to do for us?”

Kayla turned to look at him. “Well its better than being cooped up in the black mobile! Besides, we didn’t go down this road and I could use the air, even though it’s hot as hell out here.” Kayla walked away from the car, Brendan stayed put.

Jaden walked after her muttering about his car. Harley walked up next to Brendan and watched Jaden race after Kayla.

“I miss you, Harley.”

Harley looked over at Brendan. Damn, she didn’t want to be alone with him right now. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what? Tell you how I feel?”

Harley looked down and when she looked back up, her pointy features had daggers for eyes. “Yes, don’t, it’s not fair. I deserve better than what you gave me last week. How long have we been together? I’ll tell you! Five years! Never did I think I would witness what your parents put me through and you didn’t even say a thing! How long have they felt that way?”

Brendan didn’t say anything.

“How long!?” Harley shouted. A lightning bolt lanced out of the sky and struck just in front of Brendan. He took a small step back. “Since day one.” He glanced at the sky just in case another was headed for his chest as a death strike.

Harley threw her hands in the air. “Just fantastic! Day one! Great!”

Brendan was too upset to say anything. He certainly wasn’t going to win her heart back this way. He looked up at the sky one last time and then down at her. “For what it’s worth, I tried to protect you from them from the beginning.”

Harley stepped forward, “You needed to defend me. Not protect me. I can protect myself.” She stormed away leaving dust behind her.

It was five o’clock and the memorial would be closed soon. Brendan caught up with the others and tried to get Harley’s attention but she moved past him and looped her hand through Kayla’s, putting distance between them.

They all walked for a while trudging through long grass and weeds. Kayla looked to her right as the grassy area lead to another side road. To the front was another civil war ruin, to the right a home, clearly occupied by a possible caretaker. She knew it wasn’t the safe house but a sixth sense made her go toward it. She dislodged herself from Harley and walked down the street with purpose.

Jaden jogged to catch up with her. “You know that house isn’t it, right?”

Kayla looked at him like he was an idiot. “Did your spidey-senses tell you that?”

“I do wonder when you’re going to stop being such a bitch and get on with life.” Jaden walked ahead, realizing he probably hurt her but it had to be said.

Kayla on the other-hand stopped and scowled at him.

Harley walked past Kayla smiling as she looked back at her, “I’m starting to like Jaden more and more every day.”

Brendan frowned, “Why do nasty little altercations always put you in a good mood?”

Harley smirked at him and continued walking. They were half way down the side road and made it to another clearing where people were unloading horses. A few glanced their way to see what they were up to. Just around the bend from the horses Kayla stopped. She formed a clear orb in her hand by chanting, whispered into it and released the orb. The others stood back, transfixed. The orb floated to a place in a field where it seemed the trees had been cleared away, hit an object in the field and, shattering a green spark of lightning around the outline of an invisible house, revealed it to the group.

Kayla put her hand up and drew the orb back into her hands. The house was in its full glory before them. A beautiful two story Victorian house with a wrap-around porch and gingerbread was revealed before them.

Jaden turned to Kayla. “How did you do that?”

“I’ve had a lot of years on my own.”

Jaden looked momentarily sad. “Most people find a hobby.”

Kayla looked sideways at Jaden. “I’m not most people.”

Jaden shook his head, “That is one hundred percent true.”

A woman opened the front door of the home. “May I help you?”

Kayla stepped forward. “The man I am betrothed to is missing, we were wondering if he made it this far.”

“What’s his name?”

“Chase Fountaine.”

Jaden noted how Kayla was cautious to not say anything about Lyla or the fact that she was no longer going to marry Chase.

Kayla stepped forward and offered her hand. A man appeared in the doorway. “Maggie, make sure.”

Maggie took Kayla’s hand and closed her eyes. After a minute she opened them. “The one you seek isn’t here and hasn’t been, all we can do is send you off to the next safe house.”

Kayla said, “Which is?”

“The Tennessee hills, far up in the mountains. I’m not allowed to tell you the exact location since you forced us to reveal ourselves. Impressive, really. But there’s also a devious nature in you I don’t trust. You could go either way.” She said this last part as an afterthought.

“Well, thanks anyway.” Kayla turned and walked back to the group.

Jaden wasn’t satisfied with the answer, he stepped forward. “Could you tell us the general direction?” The other three hadn’t seen Jaden move forward and were moving up the road already.

Maggie motioned Jaden forward. “Don’t be alarmed. I’m a physical seer, meaning I need touch to see. Will you let me?”

Jaden didn’t think it was a big deal, after all this was a safe house, all secrets would be found eventually. Jaden placed his hand in hers.

She closed her eyes for a few moments then shot them open. “Oh, I see. What a sad tale. Your heart and intentions are pure. You do know there’s a possibility Kayla will never come around?”

This was not what Jaden had expected. “Yes.” He looked away.

“Jaden, your honor to Chase is comforting. Your fear for the future is understandable. I can give you the area. Kayla’s intentions aren’t clear to me. I don’t think she understands her own emotions either. I do know that she has a growing interest in you, whether it’s enough, only time will tell. Head north, take Exit 44 and go right off the exit, drive as far as you can. Park your car and take a tent and supplies. Its two days into the mountains. You’ll find him but be warned, I see black when I look for any sign they’re okay. Someone or something is blocking me. It could also mean death to Lyla.”

Jaden’s head shot up. He hadn’t told her about Lyla.

“Yes, it’s a possibility she’s dead but I don’t feel it, I feel someone blocking me. I wish you luck, Jaden.” She squeezed his hand as a reassuring gesture.

“Thank you.” He nodded, withdrew his hand and walked down the path to where his group was waiting patiently. He filled everyone in with the details except the information about Kayla.

Harley looked around. “I guess we need some supplies then.” They went into the car and prayed they could find a store without the use of a GPS.

Chase looked at Lyla and wiped her face for the millionth time. She was looking worse again. He rubbed the back of his neck and stretched. He had been cooped up in the room for days worrying over Lyla. If he didn’t get some air soon he would go mad. Chase stood and walked out of the room. He looked down both sides of the hall; it was empty. He went to the front door and walked out. He continued to walk until he was deep in the woods that surrounded the cabin. He strode through the dense forest and took in the scent of the trees. It was peaceful here, he continued to walk deeper into the forest, hoping to clear his head. A growing unease spread through his body. A tingling sensation started from his toes and worked its way up to his head. Chase stopped and sat down on a log. Must be the stress getting to him, he thought. Chase went through the growing dread he had about Lyla’s condition. One minute she was fluttering her eyes, almost opening them, the next she was breathing heavy and then lapsing into a comatose state. Chase thought through his memory about his existence here. The soup came once a day and within two hours of giving it to her she would be struggling to survive. He stood up from the log and walked back through the trees to where the cabin was. He stopped just at the edge of the forest looking at the quaint one story house. Mr. Henderson kept it up well, but Chase was having doubts about Mr. Henderson’s motives in helping them. Chase was heartsick for Lyla and standing on the edge of the forest looking at the place where Lyla lay comatose wasn’t helping. He walked to the house, opened the door and a flash of light struck his face. Chase fell to the ground, his world going black.

“This is the tent we need.” Brendan was standing at the sporting goods section of a popular chain store.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Harley bent her head to read the tag. “It fits two people.”

Brendan touched her back, Harley moved away from his hand. He wondered how long he had to suffer. “It says it sleeps four.” Brendan read.

“What about when we find them? Where will they sleep? Besides, we don’t need to be carting two tents around for four days.”

Brendan sighed. “Alright. The ultra-king sleeper it is then.” Brendan hiked the box over his shoulder and walked down the aisle. “Now you need sleeping bags and a pot. Here…” Brendan pointed at a display. “Here’s a cooking set, just what you need.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Are you implying that I will be doing all the cooking?”

Brendan looked over at her grumpiness. “No. I’m implying we need it, so pick it up.” He matched her tone.

She picked up the cooking set and put it in the cart. “I don’t understand how we’ll have the strength to carry all this stuff for two days up and two days back.”

Brendan looked down at her, picked up one of her sleeping bags and walked away. They finished the shopping in little less than an hour. All four were nestled in the car in their usual places driving as fast as they could to Tennessee.

Chase woke in a dusky room, the sun was setting and a lamp was on in the corner putting out very little light. A movement to the left of the lamp caught Chase’s attention. The person stood and walked toward Chase. He thought he should know the person but couldn’t place the older man. Chase sat up and regarded the towering figure before him.