Freak of Nature (The Lost Witch Trilogy #1) (17 page)

Sarah looked at him quickly and scooted over to his side, leaning in to his arm.
“I don’t want you anywhere near him Zane. You should have seen him when he realized what I was. He was inflamed at the idea of getting my blood. He probably thinks he collapsed because of something I did. He might not know you’re a witch. If he does, and he gets out, I’m worried he’ll come for you.”

Zane looked down at her with a wince covered by a small smile.
“Your faith in my abilities to protect you and myself is kind of humbling Sarah. And not in a good way.”

Sarah laughed.
“That’s not what I meant. We both know you’re not invincible. Drugs are not your friend.”

Zane groaned and slouched down further, putting his arm over Sarah’s shoulder.
“I’ll agree with you on that. But I think I proved today that I’m a good back up.”

Sarah kissed his cheek and snuggled closer.
“That you did. I just don’t want you to become a target.”

Zane’s eyes went cold and mean.
“You mean, like you?”

Sarah sighed tiredly.
“Yeah. Like me.”

The next three days were taken up with trips to the police station, the hospital and going back to school.
She worked when she could but knew in her heart that she wasn’t doing a good job of earning her keep. When she brought the subject up to Gretchen, she looked at her like she was insane.

“Earning your keep? Saving my son’s life earned your keep for the next three hundred years.
Your using an empty room that no one else needed or wanted, is no big deal. Besides, the store is doing so well with the added boutique and art and pastries that we’ve talked about giving you a little raise.”

Sarah laughed and held her hands up.
“Not until I earn it. I forbid you.”

Gretchen laughed and shooed her out the door.
She hitched her backpack over her shoulders and wished Zane could have given her a ride to school that morning but he’d gone in early to make up a test he had missed while he was in the hospital.

She felt the cool fall air slide around her face and through her wavy hair and let herself smile.
The colors of the changing leaves lightened her heart and she wondered,
no hoped
, that the rest of the year would be good. Her aunt and her friends were behind bars for now. Lash was safe from his dad and Jill would have justice. She also happened to have a gorgeous boyfriend. It wasn’t official, but everyone at school assumed they were together. Heck, Zane assumed they were. And on top of that, she had a job and people in her life who cared about her. She was starting to understand herself and her power better. She still didn’t understand her father and their relationship but was willing to give it some time. All in all? Not so bad.

She was coming into her own.
She was finding out who she really was and she was strangely happy. She grinned at her reflection as she walked past a shop window and liked what she saw. An attractive, happy girl with a good future ahead of her. She’d never seen that before.

She looked both ways and then crossed the street, jumping up onto the sidewalk as a car came around the corner.
She readjusted her back pack and glanced at the car as it started to slow down. It was a sleek, gray Mercedes with tinted windows. She couldn’t see through the windows, but she could feel something cold coming from inside.

She looked away quickly and got as far away from the street as she could.
The car pulled to the side of the street and she heard a car door open behind her. She sighed and shook her head. She was not in the mood to deal with anymore crap. Without looking behind her, she leapt into a run and disappeared into the crowd of other teenagers heading in the same direction. When she was surrounded by people she took a second and turned her head to look back. On the street corner she had just left, stood a tall man with bright blond hair, wearing a trench coat and sunglasses. He was looking right at her. She could feel it. She glared at the man, tempted to send a little electricity his way just for ruining her happy moment but decided against it. It was probably nothing.

She joined Zane in 1
st
period and thought about mentioning it to him, but decided not to when she saw how happy and carefree he looked. She didn’t want to ruin his day with her gloomy feelings of paranoia. Besides, it was just some guy standing on a street corner. People did that all the time. Did they pull their cars over, get out and attempt to follow her? No. But the standing part was completely normal and so she was going to grasp on to that.

The rest of the day was normal and as she sat next to Zane at lunch time, cocooned in his warmth she let the rest of her worries go. She was going to push all her misgivings away.
She didn’t want them. She wanted happiness. Lash walked up and put his tray down on their table, pulling a chair over to join them.

Lash even looked happy.
His eyes were bright and clear and his shoulders were relaxed. For the first time in his life, he looked like he should. Like a good looking kid, enjoying high school. Sarah grinned at him, letting go of Zane’s hand.

“How’s your head
Lash?” she asked, knowing already that it was perfectly good.

“I’m good as new.
No headaches even. I talked to the District Attorney last night and he’s taking this case very seriously. There was a case of blood lust up in Canada last year. It didn’t make the papers down here, but it was big news. The guy went after little kids walking home from kindergarten. They put him away for three consecutive life sentences. He thinks my dad might get something similar if I testify.”

Zane frowned and sat forward.
“You up to that?”

Lash nodded firmly.
“I’m doing it for myself, but mostly for Jill. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he pays for taking her life.”

Sarah winced, feeling the weight of what was ahead of him.
“What about bail? Gretchen told me his lawyer was trying to get him free until the trial begins,” she said sharing a worried glance with Zane.

Lash shook his head and opened up his coke.
“Nah, after he broke that guard’s arm when he attempted to escape that first night, they know he’s a flight risk. I think we’re safe,” he said with such a feeling of relief that Sarah reached over and grabbed his hand, squeezing it warmly.

“People just don’t realize how wonderful that feeling is.
We do.” She said softly.

Lash looked at her, his blues eyes turning soft as he put his other hand over the top of hers.
“You always made me feel safe.”

Zane cleared his throat and grabbed Sarah’s other hand.
Sarah pulled her hand away from Lash, blushing as she saw Zane’s raised eyebrow.

“So what’s next for you Lash?
Where do you go from here?” Zane asked, trying to move the conversation to safer ground.

Lash pulled his eyes away from Sarah and looked at Zane considering.
“I might take over my father’s business. He owns a water bottling company. I’ve been in contact with his business associates. After graduation I’ll be heading to the city, unless something keeps me here,” he said glancing back at Sarah.

Sarah decided it would be much safer if she just ate her sandwich. They both got the hint and talked about colleges and careers for a while.

“Hi Lash.”

Everyone looked up to see Charity standing next to their table with one of her friends standing at a safe distance behind her.
Sarah smiled at her since she had given Lash his alibi. Lash smiled at her, but looked kind of strained too.

“Hey Charity, how’s it going?” he asked.

“Um, I was wondering if you were free after school? I’ve got a project for English due and I could really use some help on it. My mom and dad are in town and they wanted me to invite you to dinner. They’d really like to meet you,” she said looking hopeful and kind of vulnerable too.

Lash looked down at the floor for a few minutes and then cleared his throat.
“That’s really sweet, but I’m going to have to pass. I have to meet with the lawyers after school and then I have to meet with the real estate agent back at the house to get it ready to sell. Good luck with your project though.”

Charity’s face fell and she nodded.
“Okay, I understand. Well, um, see ya around,” she said and turned to walk off with her friend.

Sarah felt kind of bad for her.
“Is that true, about the lawyers and the house?” Sarah asked, still watching Charity.

Lash crumpled up his garbage and shook his head.
“I still don’t trust myself right now. I don’t want her in harm’s way. I think in a few months’ time I’ll be able to go out and socialize like normal guys do. But until then, it’s just not worth it.”

Sarah smiled sadly at her friend.
But Zane was the one who stood up and reached his hand across the table. “You’re all right Lash. Friends?”

Lash stood up and glanced at Sarah hesitantly first but then relaxed and shook Zane’s hands.
No bone crushing this time. The two young men grinned at each other as Zane sat back down. Sarah felt her heart warm as she smiled at Lash.

“Hey Sarah, do you mind if I talk to you in private?” he asked, grabbing his tray and not looking at Zane.

Zane raised his eyebrow at her but shrugged.

Sarah stood up.
“Of course. You can walk me to my locker. I’ll see ya later Zane.”

They dumped their trash and walked out into the busy corridor.
“Let’s go in here to talk. It’s too noisy out here.” Lash said and opened the chemistry lab door.

Sarah walked in the room and sat down at one of the front desks.
Lash stood in front of her with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked down at her solemnly before speaking.

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this, but I just wasn’t sure how to bring it up.
So I’m just going to say it. Sarah, was my dad right? Are you a witch?”

Sarah looked up at Lash, and saw the concern in his bright blue eyes and sighed.
“Yes and no. Some people might call me a witch, but I don’t label myself that way. I have a few different forms of psychokinesis. I can do things that other people can’t.”

Lash’s eyes widened, but he nodded and stepped back to lean against the teacher’s desk.
“When my dad called you a witch and went crazy on you, I didn’t believe it. But then you threw him back without even touching him. And later I started thinking of all the times you stuck up for me and weird things would happen. Was that you using your power?”

Sarah ran a hand through her hair and looked away.
“Yeah. Not at first though. I just stuck up for you the old fashioned way when we were young, but when I was about fourteen, I realized I could do more. Are you okay with that?” she asked, looking back at him.

Lash looked at his feet for a moment and then back up at her.
“Well, it makes sense now. I just always thought that you were my lucky charm. I never realized that you were doing all of that stuff on purpose. So when Rod threw up my hamburger? You?”

Sarah laughed sheepishly and crossed her legs.
“Guilty. But I can’t say that I regret it.”

Lash grinned and then came closer to her, grabbing a chair and sitting by her side.
“I won’t tell anyone Sarah. I wouldn’t want anyone to look at you differently or judge you or anything,” he said touching her silver bracelet with his finger.

Sarah smiled.
“Thanks but people already look at me differently. They might not know what I can do, but they can sense it. I’m not exactly Miss Popularity around here.”

Lash grinned, his long black hair falling over his eye.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Does, um, does Zane know?” he asked, sitting back and looking curious.

Sarah bit her lip.
She was fine with Lash knowing about her, but Zane hadn’t given her permission to share his secret. She’d just have to tread carefully.

“Yeah, he knows.
The first day of school when we were in class, he confronted me about being a witch. I had to set him straight on that, but yeah, he knows I can do certain things.”

Lash frowned and looked disappointed.
“Oh well, I was just wondering. Some people can’t handle the strange and different.”

Sarah laughed and stood up.
“Strange and different. That’s us Lash. Come on, the bell is going to ring any second.”

Lash walked with her to the door, but paused and put his hand on the door as she tried to open it.

“The other thing I wanted to talk to you about . . . was me.”

Sarah felt her stomach drop as she looked up into Lash’s blue eyes and saw the look there. She moved back a little and cleared her throat nervously.

“Lash, you’re gorgeous, you’re amazing and you’re my friend.
But I’m kind of seeing Zane right now. You know that.”

Lash reached out and touched her collar bone with his finger, tracing the bone and pale skin with his finger.

“But you never gave me a fair chance. I’m clean now. I’m free. I want to be with you Sarah. I’ll always want to be with you.”

Sarah gulped and wished he’d stop touching her.
She noticed her energy field was completely quiet. Lash was telling the truth. He was clean and free. Yikes, this was all on her now. She wondered faintly if Zane was connected to what she was thinking and feeling right now. Lash might be in trouble if he was.

“Lash, that’s the most flattering thing anyone’s ever said to me.
If I’d never met Zane, of course I’d want to date you, but I did meet Zane. I really like him. I like you too Lash. A lot. But I’m not the type of girl who can like two boys at the same time
in that way
.”

Lash smiled sadly and let his head lean against the door as he studied her.
“There’s no one else like you. You’re the only girl I’ve ever loved. Please don’t break my heart.”

Sarah’s eyes went round and her mouth fell open.

Lash reached out and grasped her waist lightly, pulling her gently closer as he leaned down and tilted his head.

“
Lash
,” she whispered pushing against his chest.