Double Magick in the Falls

Chapter 36

The next morning I awake, wrapped securely around Victor’s lean body, as he gently strokes my back, tracing patterns along my spine. With a contented sigh, I kiss his muscular chest, allowing my fingers to explore the silky skin containing his raw power. My fingers trace the hills and valleys that make up the sculpted beauty of his chest and stomach. But before I can explore further, I’m rolled onto my back, my hands captured securely by the wrists in one of his large strong hands.

The muscles of his arm sit just above my head in tantalizing reach of my mouth. Lifting my head to gain easier access to his arm, I open my mouth allowing my tongue to escape, licking the corded strength of his arm before wrapping my legs around his. I slowly drag one up and over the muscled masterpiece of his ass.

Wrapping my leg around his narrow waist, I bring his body back to mine. We make love again, exploring every inch of each other, before finally collapsing in a sweaty satisfied heap of tangled arms, legs, and sheets. Grinning in satisfaction, I kiss him on his left, very impressive pec. A rumble of laughter vibrates under my head. I glance up at Victor in enquiry. “What’s up?”

“Nothing, my beauty is up, you insatiable minx. Well, not yet anyway,” Victor replies with a wicked grin, as he grabs my ass pulling me up his body, my legs draping to either side of his waist. He looks into my flushed face, and gently kisses me, wrapping his arms around me, holding me firmly in the circle of his embrace. An hour later, I finally drag myself out of bed to have a shower.

Victor finally relented after my insistence and drank some more of my blood. With everything going on, it’s imperative he’s at full strength. Pulling my housecoat on, I hurry to the bathroom where I have a quick pee, brush my teeth, and turn on the shower.

Stripping off my housecoat, I climb in. Standing under the hot spray, I let it drum its rhythmic tattoo onto my head and shoulders. I close my eyes and enjoy the surrounding warmth. I wash and rinse my hair and reach for my shower gel only to find Victor’s hard body. With a gasp of shock I jump back, skid, and knock my arm against the wall tile before Victor can grab my flailing body to steady me.

“What the hell are you doing?” I demand hitting his shoulder, which stings my hand and doesn’t move him an inch. “You scared the hell out of me!” I pant trying to steady my poor racing heart.

“I’m sorry I thought you heard me. Since you were taking so long, and I also need a shower, I decided to come and help you,” he informs me with a cheeky grin, as he squirts a liberal amount of shower gel into his hand, before slowly washing every inch of me.

By the time he’s finished, I’m trembling so badly he has to support me. Propping me against the wall he washes himself. As I watch him, my breathing hitches, and I’m surprised I don’t pass out from hyperventilating. Sadly he won’t let me help, maybe because I’m drooling so much, or maybe because I’m finding it so hard to breathe. Whatever the case, he finishes much too soon for my liking, until he decides it’s best for him to dry me. I have never realized a towel could be so sensual.

Finally dressed, we head downstairs for brunch. Walking into the kitchen, I notice Kheda leaning against the counter, staring into his mug as if it’s a crystal ball. Jasmine gives me a look and a waggle of her eyebrows; the girl wants details. What she gets is a blush from me as I head for the kettle; I so badly need a coffee. Finally I sit, my hands clutching my coffee mug as if it’s my life line, and munch some toast. Victor sips from one of his little blood baggies he’d heated up, his lips curling in a grimace. Raising a questioning eyebrow at him, he gives me the barest shake of his head in answer.

“So what’s next on the agenda?” Jasmine asks looking at Kheda, Victor, and finally me, guzzling my coffee as if it’s oxygen.

“We find out if Beatrix is alive,” Kheda answers softly as he twitches. “Full moon’s tonight, and I feel it crawling through me,” he answers Victor’s unspoken query.

“I’ll summon the others tonight. We’ll need them. I’ll also go over to The Witches’ Brew in a minute, and ask some questions about Beatrix. Find out where she lived and worked, in case she worked in two places,” I mutter, finishing my toast and looking with longing at my empty mug. With a final look, I put it down; staring at it will not make it refill itself.

“Because I’m going to the witch’s bar, I’d best go on my own. None of you would be welcomed there, or be safe if caught on your own outside.” I ignore everyone’s objections. After all they know I’m right.

Getting up from the table, I tidy up after myself and head out the back door where I change into wolf form and run into the woods. Staying in the woods, I run to the pub. It should just be opening and hopefully I can have a private word with Nici, before anyone’s around to overhear.

Once I’m behind the pub, I sit for a second sniffing the air. Finding nothing troubling, I change forms and enter the bar. Spotting me, Nici flings her arms around me. In shock, I stand there with my arms stiffly at my sides and my back poker straight. I am so not a hugger. “Um, Nici, can you let me go please?” I ask, as I awkwardly try wriggling out of her embrace.

“Sorry, I’m just so happy. Everyone is so much happier since you destroyed the hex on the door, and my business is booming.” Nici grins dragging me toward the bar. “Now, how can I help you? I’m gathering you’re not an early drinker?”

“You gathered correctly.” I smile back. “I need your help in finding a witch. Her first name is Beatrix. I don’t know anything else about her.” With a grimace, I realize how unhelpful that information is. Scrunching up my face in thought, I remember something else. “I think she lived either next to or near Mrs. Hayes.”

“Oh, you mean Beatrix Sullivan. Yeah, I know her. She’s…odd,” Nici replies, bobbing her head. “I think she works at Sterling Nightclub and Cynthia’s Café across the river. She lives in one of the river cottages. I’m not sure which one though,” Nici informs me with an apologetic shrug.

“Thank you so much, Nici, you’ve been amazingly helpful.” My brain starts running away from me.

Quickly I get up, leave the pub, and enter the forest. I shift back into my wolf and run toward my grandmother’s house.

When I reach her property, I change back and walk slowly toward her house. Her car is gone, so I let myself in to search for some sign of where she’s gone. The only thing I find is a note saying, “I’m sorry.”

Taking one last look around, I leave locking up her house, and slowly walk home. On returning I find Kheda and Victor gone, and Jasmine climbing the walls. With a chuckle, I ask if she fancies coming with me to try and find Beatrix’s house.

“Of course I do, but you must give me details on Victor. I want to know everything,” she exclaims. “Do you think Kheda…”

“If you’re going to ask if he likes you, I’m just going to say, duh, of course he does. Hell, he can’t keep his eyes off you, and he touches you at every opportunity he has.” I laugh at the relief flittering across her expressive face.

“Come on, let’s go search Beatrix’s house and maybe find her body!” God only knows what someone is doing with it. We leave a note for the guys telling them where we’ve gone.

Leaving on foot, we stroll in contented silence for a while, before Jasmine finally breaks it, asking with a cheeky grin, “So you and Victor, how’s things going? Come on, Candi, I want details, and you’re holding out on me!” She laughs in delight, as she witnesses the flush creeping up my cheeks.

“It’s new and wonderful, and so amazing, but I don’t know where we’re heading, and I don’t want to talk about it.”

With a nod of understanding, she thankfully drops the subject. What I don’t tell her is I want Victor with every fiber of my being. I haven’t felt so alive in ages. Scrap that, I haven’t felt this alive ever, and to be honest, it scares the shit out of me. And after he was brave enough to admit how he feels, I feel almost ashamed I don’t have the courage to admit how I feel. After all, how can anyone affect me so completely, in so short a time?

Reaching the river cottages, we decide it’d be best if I find Beatrix’s house, and then meet her in the alley behind them and enter from the back gardens. It doesn’t take me long to find Beatrix’s house. It’s surprisingly easy. In fact it’s so easy I almost have a heart attack.

Quickly I run back to Jasmine and drag her into the alley. I shove my hand over her mouth preventing her saying anything, or letting her muffled scream of surprise out, as we hide in the shadows.

A second later Beatrix walks by, heading toward East Bridge whistling a happy tune, her head securely attached to her body! Jasmine gasps, it could be from shock, or lack of oxygen, either reason plausible. Taking my hand away, Jasmine sucks in oxygen as if it’s going out of fashion.

“I found out where she lives,” I whisper to her, receiving a what-the-fuck look. In reply, I give her a wicked grin and a shrug of my shoulders before heading further into the alley to reach the fourth house along.

Jasmine keeps looking back, shaking her head as she follows behind me. With a final look to make sure the coast’s clear, we sneak through the back gate, silently closing it behind us. Spotting a large shed with windows, I wander over to it. Peeking in I see a mini gym, with a punching bag, treadmill, weights, a leg machine, as well as a bike.

“Holy crap,” mutters Jasmine gawking at the equipment.

“I so must get one of them,” I grumble. I have to admit, I feel kinda envious as I stare at the punching bag. We move to the back door, turning the handle. I’m not surprised to find it locked, so I let Jasmine pick it. She did teach me, but she’s faster and let’s be honest here, with a dead witch walking, time’s not on our side. Especially if the undead witch is a possible serial killer! In less than two minutes the lock is picked, and we enter the silent house. Bright orange walls and hot pink doors greet us, with a neon brightness that almost blinds me. “Yikes, I do not like her color theme,” I mutter shielding my eyes, wishing for some sunglasses.

“She’s obviously making sure people don’t want to come in, or…heck, I can’t think of any reason someone would deliberately color their home these colors.” Jasmine winces, looking in horror at the bright walls and doors.

Searching the house, we find the bad taste in color scheme and furniture appears only downstairs. Upstairs, the colors are warm and inviting, the furniture’s rich dark woods beckoning you to relax and enjoy. If I hadn’t believed Beatrix probably is the killer before, I sure as hell do now. What other reason could anyone have for the literal split-personality house?

Quickly and efficiently, we search the house, but find nothing. Nothing stands out, apart from the decoration, no trophies from the murders, or a reason for killing them. Glancing at Jasmine, I see she’s as puzzled as I am. Nothing makes sense. We decide it’s time to leave and move toward the stairs, when we hear the front door opening.