Blood Runs Through the Heart Read online

  Raven arrived as the witch’s life ceased. Her body’s strength drained from mistletoe and the lamp; she fell to the ground under the wobbly legs. Brandy Lee ran over, rubbing her head into her cheek. Are you okay?

  “I’m weak. Let’s get the hell out of here.” Raven whispered as she caressed the side of Brandy Lee’s head. With everything that happened, she took notice of the softness of the fur between her fingers. It felt like an exquisite bear rug. So soft. So sensual.

  Yes, let’s go. Brandy Lee gave another nudge with her head.

  As they looked toward the lake, the snakes were retreating into the water. The black panther held a few squirming reptiles between clasped jaws. One bite and the heads were severed. The cat tossed the decapitated head back into the lake. The children huddled in the same corner, but an illness ravished their bodies. They held their stomachs in pain. They were growing. The spell that hovered over them for years had been erased with the Lake Witch’s death. Raven and Brandy Lee watched the transformation as the children turned into grown-ups. All ages but they looked the same. The Smittens were all blonde-haired siblings, but now, two women and two men in their twenties. The twins remained identical, which made telling them apart harder than before.

  Theo stepped from the shadows, rage set in his eyes. He was a handsome man in his thirties. Was he upset? He was free of the witch and the spell. Free to leave the lake. “You’ve taken everything from me. My woman and my power over this pathetic group.” Theo turned to Red after the deaths of their spouses. They’d instilled fear into the others, controlling the small clan of children. Appeasing the witch was a mere nuisance throughout the time. It was the power they craved. With the witch dead, spell erased, and Red dead, Theo was no longer needed. The others were not at his mercy and could stand on their own. “I will kill you!” He screamed while lifting his arms.

  Brandy Lee and Raven didn’t see when the beautiful woman appeared. Her straight combed light brown hair cascaded over her shoulders. She was young, possibly twenty. Where dirt once stained her face, freckles now replaced. Her curves were hypnotizing. She was breathtaking. It was Peggy. She turned her head for a moment, but long enough to catch the attention of the two women. Her arms lifted; the air becoming chilled as a wall of ice formed. It was solid and thick, locking Theo on the other side. His figure could be seen banging on the frozen liquid with muffled threats whispering from behind the wall. Peggy turned around. “Go. This wall will not hold him for long.”

  Raven stepped forward. “Peggy, you are a fairy?”

  “We all are, but there is no time for this. Go.”

  “Come with us!” Raven said.

  “I don’t know what there is for me out there.” She answered. The cracking of the ice drew her attention away.

  Enough was enough, and Brandy Lee was done with it all. Nudging her nose between the legs of Peggy, and with a swift toss, her body went flying. A gasp escaped from the young girl as she landed on the back of the white wolf. Brandy Lee felt fingers grasping at her fur, as Peggy tried to find a balance. She looked at Raven. Get on! She told her. Raven jumped up, spooning Peggy with arms wrapped around her. Tell her to hold on! Another thought sent to Raven.

  “Brandy Lee says to hold on.” Raven tightens her grip.

  A quick scan of the area by Brandy Lee, and she noticed the lake didn’t look as friendly or inviting as when they first arrived. She walked over to the book bag that laid a few feet away. Taking the strap by her mouth, she tossed it behind her to Raven. Her eyes scanned their escape. Crawling into the woods was the black panther. She wanted nothing to do with her, so she leaped to the right and headed in the opposite direction. The ice wall crashed to the ground as she reached the tree line. Without a glance backward, the three disappeared into the shadows of the Dark Forest, leaving the lake behind them.

  15

  Hello

  Paws pounded into the ground with every step; the pace fast and dangerous. It wasn’t until a tug on the fur that made Brandy Lee slow down. There couldn’t be enough distance between them and the lake. She slowed and stopped in a clearing. With panting breaths, she lowered to her belly and the two passengers jumped off. She laid her head on her front legs when a tender touch stroked her neck. Her eyes closed for a minute while the realization surfaced. She had taken a life, and the residue of blood simmered her mouth. She whimpered. Then, as if Raven felt her pain, a whisper filled in her ear.

  “You did what you had to do. Relax and come back to me in your human form. I’m stronger now and can protect us. Changing has you tired and weak. I got you, Baby. Now, let me see that beautiful face.”

  With her words, Brandy Lee shifted into her human state. Her naked body collapsed. Catching her mid-fall, Raven embraced her. She held and rocked the exhausted woman in her arms, whispering reassuring words as Brandy Lee cried uncontrollably. The flood of emotions so intense, the woman shook. Peggy squatted down beside the two.

  “I’ll make you a shower. Would you like that Brandy Lee?” A head nod confirmed. Peggy stood and raised her arms above her head. In a circular motion that grew with speed, water appeared. It swirled above in turmoil in a small tornado of liquid. A jerk of her arms in a downward motion and the water cascaded towards the ground. A controlled stream of water developed into a shower.

  Raven watched the magic in awe. She read about fairies in school, but it was rare to see one. Never mind the fact she was watching one’s magic. The magic of this creature was the most powerful in the world. The thought of the Lake Witch imprisoning one was astonishing, but a whole frollick was unbelievable. Raven gave Peggy a soft smile. Then, she lifted Brandy Lee in one scoop. She walked into the water and placed Brandy Lee’s feet on the ground. The warm water cascaded over them like summer rain. The day washed away. Usually, being this close to a beautiful naked woman would have Raven ripping off her own clothes, but today, she wanted only to make sure Brandy Lee remained safe.

  After the shower, Raven dressed Brandy Lee and helped her into the tent which Peggy had set up. She leaned on one elbow, watching her eyelids get heavy. She stroked the sleepy woman’s cheek. “You look so tired,” Raven said in a soft voice. A hand raised touching her upper arm.

  “Heck of a day. I had to fix what I screwed up.” Brandy Lee said.

  “Don’t be silly. We both fell for the charades. It is past us now. We get our strength back and will continue towards the council. Get the answers we need and cancel the kill order on you. You need to rest.” Raven’s emerald eyes looked loving down at the weaken girl. She was falling hard for her. The next move caught her off guard, taking Raven’s breath away. Brandy Lee wrapped her fingers around the back of Raven’s neck and pulled her into a kiss. A soft touch of the lips raged into their mouths, parting ever so allowing tongues to twirl. Taking all her strength, Raven pulled away from the most delicious kiss that ever touched her lips. A peck on the cheek and Raven whispered, “Now rest.” With those two words, she watched as Brandy Lee’s eyelids grew heavy and drooped. Sleep took control.

  Her eyes searched for the moon as she stepped from the tent. There was close to two-and-a-half hours left before the sun would rise. The clearing provided very little protection from the ball of heat. Raven’s blanket had been left behind at the lake, and with the tent her only barrier, she would have to be careful. Moving forward would require careful planning on their parts. The last obstacle they need was for her crisping like bacon in a frying pan. Raven stretched and then made a track around the wood line gathering timber. She sat, trying to light a fire with her frustration building with every strike of the two rocks. She wished she paid more attention to girl scouts during fire-making lessons instead of pining over Nancy Tubermaker.

  The soft, timid voice sprung from the darkness behind her, and Raven spun around. “Can I help you with that?” Peggy asked.

  “That would be nice. Join me.” Raven scooted over on the log.

  Peggy stepped over with one foot at a time. She plopped down, giving a soft smile with embarrassment about how hard she hit the timber. She snapped her two fingers, and the fire roared upwards. Huge flames reached to the sky before settling back down to a flicker.

  “Wow. That’s impressive.” Raven said.

  “Thanks. It’s nothing.” Peggy responded.

  “So, what’s your story? I hope that wasn’t too blunt. I’m sorry, but seeing fairies is one in a million. Plus, your magic is mind-blowing.” Raven stared at the woman sitting next to her. She was beautiful — nothing like the dirty, matted hair little girl that they met. Her features were kind. Small freckles covered her nose. The once matted hair was long, straight, and laid down her back, touching the tip of her butt. Her eyes were spellbinding.

  Peggy smiled. “I understand that you could be nervous about being around me. I mean neither you nor Brandy Lee any harm.” Peggy inhaled. “My frollick was traveling when a sudden wind blew us into the lake. Some of us died. Then she showed up — the witch. We were still trying to recover from the fall and the deaths of our loved ones. She didn’t appear in her form but of a mother fairy. We trusted her to help us. She took us in, and we slept with comfort for the night. We were to leave the next day. During our sleep, she cast a spell turning us into children, suppressing all our powers. It was a brilliant scheme, considering all the magic and power a family of fairies contains. We could’ve crushed her.” Peggy stared into the fire. For a moment, her words stopped before they started again. “Years we were trapped. Theo and Red bullied us all. Before we knew it, they were working with the witch. I had caused trouble throughout the years, and wanted to kill her. They banished me from the group. It was hard to fight them all.” Sadness filled her words, and Raven was finding grief filling her heart for the lost woman.

  Raven remembered from
her studies that fairies are born to a family. They travel in frollicks. They need them to survive, or loneliness will slowly kill them. It ran across her thoughts: What was in store for the lost fairy? “Thank you for helping us back there. I know you went against your family.”

  “I lost my family a long time ago. Heartbreak fills me. Everyone wasn’t bad, and I miss my friends. We remained under control with Theo and Red’s fear tactics. They were terrible fairies.” Peggy twisted her wrist, and the fire blazed. She felt an arm wrap around her shoulder in comfort, as eyes stared into the flames. “Your turn. What’s up with you and Brandy Lee? You’re not trying to find a friend. So, why in the world are a vampire and a she-wolf tracing around the Dark Forest?”

  Figuring it was a gamble, Raven told her the whole story about Brandy Lee. The royal family and the kill order part. She explained the attempt to kill Brandy Lee by an elder. They were traveling to the council of she-wolves for answers, hoping the kill order could get canceled and the question answered. Was Brandy Lee part of the royal family?

  Peggy listens with intensity. Once Raven’s words faded to a stop, Peggy spoke. “The royal family has not existed for centuries. Hard to believe an heir lives in these times, but I guess it might be possible.”

  “Would you want to help us reach the council? I know it may be a lot to ask, but your magic is irreplaceable.”

  Peggy thought about her choices. Leave the forest and get lost in a big world alone with no friends. Loneliness. The kryptonite of fairies. Or, stay with these two new women and face the woods and evil. She owed a debt. She owed her freedom to them. The answer already decided before the question got asked. She would help the two move forward.

  “No need to ask. I’ll help you.” Peggy answered, knowing they were helping her also. Alone in these woods would be a death sentence for a single fairy.

  Other than the kiss in the tent, Raven smiled again with a tingle of hope in her heart. Both tired, she didn’t want to dig for any more details. Raven inhaled, and with a massive burst of air whisking from her, she blew the fire out in one puff. With a smirk, “I have a little magic too.”

  “I see. Nice.” Peggy stood. Raven stood.

  “Let’s go get some rest. I can feel the sun minutes away. Thank you again, Peggy, for saving us.”

  “Ditto, Raven.”

  After a long embrace, they headed towards the tent. Peggy stopped in her tracks, allowing Raven to enter first. Raven turned to find the young girl twirling her hands in circles. The ground lifted and tossed around them. A dome grew over them made of the dirt, leaves, and branches. Standing sturdy and tall, it turned the tiny tent into a fortress. Dipping her head, Peggy entered the tent, and the wall closed. “Safer for us.” She whispered before zipping up the tent.

  Tomorrow will bring a new night, but now, they would sleep.

  16

  Bacon Bacon

  Stretching her arms, Brandy Lee rolled to her back, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. She lifted her head and glanced around the tent. Peggy wasn’t inside. Raven’s body laid spread out beside her, still asleep. The beauty of the woman drew her attention like a magnet. She rolled over, propping herself up on one elbow. “God, you are gorgeous,” she whispered. Her long black hair cascaded down the front of her. She laid on her back with her arms crossed across her chest. Brandy Lee smiled. Raven looked like the typical vampire in the movies. Her pale skin perfect. Kissable lips teased at a distance.

  “Why are you smiling?” Raven whispered in a sleepy voice.

  “Because of you.” Brandy Lee responded.

  Fingers slipped along the side of her face, wrapping around the back of her neck. Brandy Lee felt her body pull down. The kiss so hot, breaths became stolen. Little moans escaped into the tight space. Brandy Lee slid on top. Raven’s breath hitched.

  “What’re you doing?” The words came hard. Raven’s mind couldn’t focus. Their skin touched under the sheets firing up her nerves. Even with the tee-shirt and underwear between them, Raven could feel her warmth against her cold skin.

  “I’m not sure. Show me.” Brandy Lee’s husky voice filled with passion.

  Tingles darted over the skin. Raven let her hands run under her shirt, with nails scratching over the surface of her flesh. Their kiss deepened. Raven felt fingers at the edge of her shirt, and she stopped the kiss. She froze. Raven reached down, grabbing Brandy Lee’s hand in an effort to prevent her from going any farther. “No, not here. It’s your first time. You deserve better.”

  Brandy Lee lifted to find those emerald eyes. “I’m where I want to be, here with you. Do you want me because I want you?”

  Her words. So naïve, but yet, sexy. “Yes,” Raven mustered out the single word. Her body ached for the beautiful blonde. Her nerves on edge, knowing she was a virgin.

  As if she heard her thoughts, “Then show me how to please you.”

  Raven released the hand that she still grasped. She guided it under her shirt until it scooped up her breasts. Their eyes locked until Raven’s grew heavy at a pull of her nipple. Raven’s hand fell to Brandy Lee’s ass. She pulled at the underwear. “Take these off.” Raven felt Brandy Lee pulling and tugging at the underwear. Raven shimmied her panties down. The two articles joined each other at the end of the bed. Raven rolled until she was on top and in control.

  “You sure?” Raven asked one more time. A smear of wetness laid on her thigh from Brandy Lee’s center, and she knew the answer before asking. Brandy Lee took her into a kiss to confirm.

  Fingers crawled up Brandy Lee’s thigh, sending the sexy blonde into a fit of shivers. Raven broke the kiss when she reached her folds. She was so wet. Heavy breaths laid between them. Raven entered, warmth smothering her finger. She watched as Brandy Lee’s golden eyes glazed over in desire before transforming into needs. A stroke over her clit and Brandy Lee growled deep from the back of her throat. An uncontrollable moan released from Raven in response. Her own clit throbbed for release. The finger slipped out in slow motion. Raven slipped her body on top. Swollen clits touched. Gasping breaths filled the air. The friction on their nipples intense from the tee-shirts that remained on during their lovemaking. They grinded in rhythm. Raven buried her face deep into the sexy neck. The pulsating artery told her Brandy Lee was close. She slipped her lips to her ear, whispering, “Please. Come for me.” Raven felt the body under her tense and shudder. Fingernails dug deep into her back just as Brandy Lee released. Raven followed her with her explosion. They collapsed with heavy breaths.

  “You’re quiet. Is everything okay?” Raven asked. Her fingers caressed the back of the tousled blonde hair. Raven enjoyed the woman in her arms.

  “I’m perfect.” She gave a squeeze around her waist. “It was perfect.” With a lift of the head, a soft kiss whispered across Raven’s lips. “You’re perfect.” The words seeped out between the kiss. Brandy Lee’s nose wrinkled. She sniffed. “Is that bacon? I smell bacon!” She stiff-armed off Raven.