Authors: Rachel Carrington
"That'll be enough apologising out of you,” Heart snapped, snagging hold of her niece's arm. “You're in a heap of trouble."
For a brief moment, Ella looked worried. Then her face cleared, and she lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “It's not like I've never been there before."
Heart's eyes narrowed. “Oh, yes, but this time will be a bit different. First, you're grounded."
"Grounded? You can't ground me! I'm an adult!"
One foot stomped the ground, and Heart muttered something under her breath. Ella squeaked and staggered backwards before dropping to her knees.
"Ella!” Noelle rushed to help her cousin, but Heart held her back with the palm of her hand.
"No, there's no need. She just lost some of her sassiness, that's all.” Holding up one fisted hand, Heart glared down at her niece. “What I have in this hand right now is your magic, Ella, and I'm keeping it until you and I can have a long talk about how you're supposed to use it. Then, you're going to be tied to Betony for a long, long time."
Ella dragged herself to her feet, looking pale. “Aunt Heart, you know I was only trying to have some fun."
"Save it for the jury.” Dusting her hands down the front of her dress, Heart bestowed a smile upon Noelle and Jacob. “Now, don't either of you worry. I'll take care of the police and Jacob's family."
"What do you mean, take care of my family?” Jacob was instantly on the defensive.
"Oh, for the love of the Goddess! You have to start trusting people more, boy,” Heart reprimanded. “I only meant that a simple spell will take care of any recollection they have of all of these shenanigans.” As Jacob's shoulders relaxed, she continued. “I don't believe your uncle will want his memory erased, however.” Her eyes twinkled. “I can only imagine the good time he was having. That is one thing that Ella is quite capable of—showing a man a good time."
"Yeah, well, fat lot of good it did me,” Ella complained, falling silent when Heart glared at her.
"Now that everything is settled, shall we go, Noelle?” Heart swept one hand towards the ceiling, her fingers dancing in the air.
Noelle looked up at Jacob and then back at her aunt. “Yes, I suppose so.” She started to walk towards Heart, paused and looked over her shoulder. “I'm terribly sorry about all of this, Jacob. I hope one day you can forgive me for interrupting your life like this."
Jacob stared at her and Noelle thought she caught a glimmer of something in his eyes, but it could have been the poor lighting inside the front door of the funeral home.
"You're leaving?” he finally asked.
Noelle gave a jerky nod. She didn't want to go, but rules were rules. And the coven rarely made exceptions. “It's time for me to go home."
Ella made a rude noise in the back of her throat, and Heart yanked her away, leading her out the door and into the waning sunlight to “give the kids time to say their goodbyes".
Jacob stuck his hands into the front pockets of his pants. “Okay, I know this may sound like a strange question, but will I see you again?"
As much as she wished it were possible, Noelle knew it could never be. The coven would never allow it, and after Ella's stunt, she doubted any witch in Betony would be allowed to return to Earth.
"I can't come back to Earth, Jacob."
He took hold of her hands. “You're telling me this is it?"
"We had twenty-four hours.” She smiled up at him. “Consider yourself lucky that Ella didn't cause even more damage."
"I don't care about Ella."
"Jacob, don't. You haven't known me long enough to care.” Standing on tiptoe, she planted a kiss against his lips. “Live well.” Slipping her hands from his, she followed her aunt's earlier path.
"Why are you still sitting here, boy?” Ed propped his feet on the coffee table and tipped the beer bottle to his lips.
Jacob's hand froze, holding the remote control aloft. “What are you talking about now?” Since his uncle had returned shortly after Noelle had disappeared, Ed had taken to hanging around Jacob's condo. And giving his opinion on Jacob's life.
It seemed that Ed had enjoyed his sojourn away, and upon his return, had regaled Jacob with exploits that would have sent an ordinary sixty-eight-year-old man to the hospital. And once Jacob had explained the trick Ella had played on Ed, the old man only seemed to enjoy it more. Of course, Ed had always been the type to believe in the oddities of the world, which was probably why he hadn't had a problem when Ella had informed him she was a witch.
"You're missing that gal, ain't ya?” Ed slapped his knee and adjusted himself on the leather sofa. “Yeah, I figured as much. Ever since you told me about this Noelle, you've been moping around here like a cat in heat. Seems to me while the two of you were busy trying to figure out a way to get her home, you done went and fell in love with her."
Jacob surged to his feet. “I don't know what in the hell you're talking about. Noelle and I had a few laughs together and a helluva lot of trouble. In fact, she's more trouble than she's worth."
A snort exploded in the air. “Yeah, and I'm King Tut.” Ed's sneakered feet smacked the floor as he dropped his legs off the table. “I'm telling you, boy. Go after her. You're feeling things you ain't felt in ... well, hell, as long as I've known you. This woman done caught you by the short and curlies.” He cackled then coughed. “A good woman will do that to you."
"I'm not going to listen to this, Uncle Ed.” Jacob snagged his keys from the kitchen counter. “I'm going for a drive."
"Why don't you go see if you can find that little floozy that put you in this predicament? She might have some ideas."
Jacob stalked towards the door. “If you're talking about Ella, I have no interest in ever seeing her again. I'd think you wouldn't want me to have anything to do with her, considering the nasty-ass practical joke she pulled."
"It wasn't like I was suffering.” Ed smiled, and Jacob didn't even want to know what kind of memory he was having. “Who knew witches actually existed? And damn, but don't they make ‘em hot."
Massaging his temples, Jacob stopped in front of the louvered door. “That's all you've been talking about since you got back. You seem to be missing the fact that Ella led us all to believe you were dead, Ed! Your sisters were planning your funeral!"
Another snort rent the air. “My sisters were planning how to divvy up my shit.” He pushed himself to his feet and hitched up his pants. “Now, then, suppose you tell me more about this Noelle. Seems she's really put a stamp in that brain of yours."
Jacob didn't want to talk about it anymore. The memories were killing him. Though they'd only known each other twenty-four hours, Noelle had left a mark. Just sleeping in his bed wrapped him in the images. Every night for the past two weeks, he'd laid awake, inhaling Noelle's scent and feeling her soft skin.
The last thing he wanted was Ed's pushing and taunts.
"You're thinking about her, aren't you? Remembering how she felt in your arms?"
Jacob whirled. “That is enough! You know nothing about Noelle."
"That's because you ain't told me much, but I know you fucked her."
"Oh, for the love of God, will you just stop talking about it? My sex life is none of your business."
Ed lifted a shoulder dismissively. “Why not? I told you I got laid in Vegas. Even won me some money. The way I look at it, that witch with a nose for practical jokes did us both a favour.” He scratched his stomach. “That was the best sex I'd had in quite some time."
Jacob's hand went up as he winced. “That's enough."
"What? You don't want to hear about the sexy little thing I hooked up with? You think you're the only one in this family who still has it?"
"I don't want any more details!” Jacob practically shouted as he tore open the front door. “I'll be back later. You can let yourself out."
Ed's chuckles followed him down the front walk.
"Ella!” Jacob snapped out the witch's name, more than a little irritated with himself. He hadn't wanted to call for help, but dammit, there was something about Noelle, something that had gotten into his blood.
And now, here he was calling to the very witch who'd screwed with more lives than the devil himself.
"Ella, I know you're up there and you can hear me. So goddammit, get your ass down here!"
"You have to hear him calling me,” Ella addressed her stoic aunts with her hands on her hips.
"We hear him.” Heart kept her attention on the harp she was polishing.
"And you know why he's calling."
Emmie took another swig of the glass of tequila and glared at their nice. “Well, of course, we know. He's in love with Noelle."
Ella smacked her hands against her silk-covered hips and marched around behind the settee where Jazz sat with her hands folded in her lap like an innocent angel. “Then you have to let me go."
This took Emmie's attention away from her libations. “We don't have to do anything, Ella. We're the ones in charge here, remember?"
Dammit. They were right, but Ella wasn't above wheedling. “So you really want him to suffer because of something I did?"
"If we let you go down there, what good will our rules be?” Heart snapped.
"But if we don't,” Jazz finally interrupted, “how much longer will Noelle be miserable?"
Heart and Emmie seemed to consider Jazz's input before they finally relented.
"Okay, fine. Ten minutes. That's all you have, but do not, under any circumstances, let him know we allowed this. The last thing we want is for a mortal to think he can control us.” Heart shivered at the prospect. “And we mean ten minutes, Ella. Don't make us have to haul your ass back up here ourselves. You won't like the additional punishment."
Ella mumbled something below her breath but nodded complacently. “I will be back within the allotted time."
"Be gone then,” Emmie announced with a wave of her hand.
"Ella, this isn't funny!” As Jacob finished speaking, the air began to shimmer, and like a curtain falling open, clouds parted.
Ella dropped to the ground, whirling around like a ballerina before she came closer. Wearing a scarlet dress and wickedly high heels, she sashayed towards him.
"Well, well, well, Mr. Sanders. We meet again.” She tapped a lengthy fingernail against her chin and slid a gaze up and down his body in a lurid manner.
Jacob tensed and wondered at his own lack of sense for calling her. “I need to talk to Noelle."
Ella feigned a horrified expression. “And you want me to help you? Do you have any idea how much trouble I've been in the last two weeks? I just now got back my magic, and if Aunt Heart knew I was down here right now, I'd lose it again."
"Look. You started this. The least you can do is finish it."
Her eyes narrowed to slits, Ella took a threatening step forward. “And what makes you so sure Noelle will want to talk to you?"
"I'll take my chances."
She smirked at him before sweeping around him in a swirl of vibrant perfume. “Do you fancy yourself in love with her?"
Jacob gritted his teeth, tightening his hands to keep from clenching them around the woman's neck. He had no doubt she'd make good on her threat to turn him into a reptile of some sort, but he wasn't about to discuss his feelings with her.
"I don't want to talk to you about Noelle. I want to talk to her. And I'm asking you if you'll make it happen."
She came back around to face him, and her expression was one of curiosity. “I can make the effort, but I'm not sure it'll do any good. The coven is really cracking down on witches leaving the..."
"Then don't go through the proper channels."
Ella's eyes widened and her mouth fell open before she gave him a wicked grin. “Mr. Sanders, are you asking me to,” she lowered her voice to a whisper, “break the rules?"
Jacob clasped his hands tightly behind his back. “Yes."
She purred. “And what do I get out of the deal?"
Jacob had had enough. His temper snapping, he came within an inch of the witch's face. “You get my silence."
Her eyebrows lifted. “And why would I require that?"
"As much trouble as you're in now, how do you think the coven would like knowing you slept with a mortal, too?"
Ella looked decidedly uncomfortable and, for a brief moment, was speechless. Then she found her voice and said, with a haughty toss of her chin, “You would dare threaten me?"
Jacob didn't back down from the fire in the witch's eyes. “Absolutely."
She rubbed her chin. “Well, the coven wouldn't like it, that's for sure. But how did you find out?"
"You're not the only one with an ace or two up his sleeve.” The way Jacob looked at it, he couldn't be too far off the mark. After all, the witch had to have been amusing herself some way besides just watching Noelle. He knew his bluff had worked when Ella glared at him. “Yeah, I get the feeling the coven would be pissed."
Ella folded her arms. “Not any more than they were at Noelle for hitting the sack with a mortal.” She gave an unladylike snort. “Whatever, though. I'll arrange a meeting with Noelle, but then this is the last time you can use this trump card."
"Done,” Jacob readily agreed. Hopefully, after his meeting with Noelle, he wouldn't need another way to blackmail Ella. In fact, he wouldn't need a reason to see that witch at all.
Ella knew before she returned that she was in a shitload of trouble. The aunts hadn't known about the extracurricular activities she'd had on Earth, and the last thing she'd expected from the mortal was that trump card.
Perfect. Sweet, innocent Noelle gets her man and Ella, more than likely, would get another kick in the ass.
She approached the trio silently. “I'm sure you heard his request."
Emmie set the glass of tequila down on the table next to her and adjusted the blue robe she wore. “Indeed, we did."
Hoping to divert their attention from the information he'd imparted, she quickly asked, “Well, are you going to let Noelle go?"
The three sisters exchanged glances. “But, of course,” Emmie finally responded. “
She's
not the one in trouble."