Chapter 8
"Tink blasted fairy dildo!" I was so angry I was having a hard time figuring out what I was trying to say. How could Trent's mother do this? Trent and Quen looked at me like I had grown a second head.
"Rachel?" Trent shifted away from me.
"This is crap. No, this is shit! Why? Why does something so unbelievable always have to happen to me?" I ranted, standing and waving my arms. Yes, the crazy witch was coming out. "I'm not doing this! My fate is not bound to yours." I pointed my finger at Trent.
"Calm down. It doesn't change anything." Trent tried to soothe me but I wasn't letting that voice of liquid silk do it this time.
I turned on Quen poking him in the chest. "And you! You've known about this and not said a damn word! To the turn with both of you." I started stomping towards the front. I know I must have looked like a child throwing a fit but I didn't care. I was done with all this elven magic. Trent's family had messed with my life enough. I wasn't going to let them do it from the grave. What gave them the right to decide our futures?
I heard someone behind me and from the smell of sour wine and grass I knew it was Trent. I'm not going to listen to anything the little cookie maker has to say. The voice in the back of my head kept saying that I would. The turn take it! I know that I would listen to Trent and it pissed me off.
I was all the way to my car before Trent grabbed my arm. I yanked it back and looked at the sky. It was so dark, no stars or moon. The complete blackness seemed to compliment my mood. There was a slight breeze and I shivered.
"Rachel, please." Trent whispered.
"What Trent? What could you possibly say that will make anything about this situation better?" I snapped at him. It wasn't his fault and I knew that. It wasn't right to blame him for the things his family had done. He didn't even know if it was true until five minutes ago. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before I bit his head off again.
"I need you." He said it so quietly I almost didn't hear him.
"Beg pardon?" I had to be sure of what he just said.
"I need you Rachel. I can't do this without you." Trent looked into my eyes.
I was silent. What could I say? I need you too but I'm too chicken to tell you? I wouldn't say anything. I didn't know what I was feeling anymore and it was safer to keep my mouth shut. I was tired of making rash decisions about attractive men that needed me. It always came back to bite me in my demon ass.
"I need to go home Trent. I'm emotionally spun. I've gotta think okay?" I finally responded.
He nodded his head. I climbed into the car without another word. How could I leave when he just told me he needed me? Because you're a stupid witch and you're going to blame the only man that has ever told you not to change who you are... I was down the drive before I knew it, not even slowing to make sure the gate was open.
I woke up to Ivy climbing onto my bed. What the hell! She moved so fast and had her hand over my mouth before I could even open it.
"Ssshhhh. There's someone in the church." She whispered, releasing my mouth. Crap on toast. I was tired of this. Didn't these people know witches slept during the day?
"Who is it?" I whispered back, as she eased off my bed so I could get up.
"Jenks is finding out. I could smell them. I thought you were possessed by the Druchii again." Ivy whispered. She was deep in thought and missed the terrified look on my face. My breathing hitched and I felt Ivy stiffen as my fear hit her.
"Sorry." I squeaked, feeling bad about not being able to control my emotions. We heard a crash of breaking glass from the sanctuary. Ivy and I were out of my room in a heartbeat only to be stopped at the front of the hall by Jenks. He was dusting black and he had his sword drawn.
"He's out in the front. I hit him with one of Rachel's splat balls when he went through the window. He's an elf." Frustration showed in his features.
"An elf? Swell." I rolled my eyes. "Lets get him inside."
Ivy and I ran outside to find a man sprawled in an awkward position in the front yard. He was out cold from a sleepy time charm. Ivy and I lifted him by his shoulders and drug him inside. For once I was grateful for the drama unfolding early in the morning so all the neighbors didn't have to witness it. We dropped him on the floor of the sanctuary. He didn't look like anyone I had seen before but that didn't mean he didn't know exactly who I was.
"I don't know who he is but he sure smells familiar." Jenks was hovering between Ivy and I taking in the broken window and the unknown elf on the floor.
"He does Rachel. I've smelled him before." Ivy's eyes lost a little brown.
"He's out though so unless someone pours saltwater on him he isn't going anywhere." I stated. Could today get any worse?
Ivy got the phone book out of the end table and snatched the phone. I guess we would need to fix the glass. I sighed. It was only eight thirty in the morning. Much too early for us to be awake. I hadn't slept well after telling Ivy and Jenks about everything that had happened at Trent's. When I'd finally gotten into a deep enough sleep I would dream about camp. Trent was in the background of a lot of those memories. I wonder if he was actually there or if it was just wishful thinking. I wanted my memories back. I couldn't help but wonder if there were more memories that Trent knew from when we were children but wasn't sharing.
I retrieved the broom from the kitchen and started sweeping the glass that had fallen inside. I heard Ivy telling the glass company that she would double their quote if they could have the new glass installed before noon. The gentle sound of the broom on the floor was strangely comforting. Trent's lips against mine tasting of cinnamon when we were kids kept playing over and over in my head.
"If you don't answer me I'm gonna pix you!" Jenks was in front of my face.
"What?" Confused I stopped sweeping to look at him.
"What's going on with you Rache? You're out of it a lot these past few days." He landed on my shoulder.
"I was just thinking Jenks. I didn't hear you." I swept the glass I had piled together into the dust pan. Not waiting for his response I asked, "Do you think I should call Trent? Maybe he knows who it is?"
"Rache! I just told you to call the little cookie maker. You're as bad as my kids. Never listen to a damn word that I say then act like you came up with the idea on your own." Jenks ranted.
"Are you sure it was a good idea to call them already?" I asked Ivy. We had an unconscious elf on our floor and no idea what we were going to do with him. We couldn't just shove him in a closet when they came to fix the window.
I sighed. Ivy was eying us from the couch. Her motions were quick as she approached us.
"Hey Ivy, don't you think Rache should call fairy-farts and let him know about our visitor?" Jenks asked.
"I don't know Jenks. Are we sure we can trust Trent?" Ivy wouldn't look at me.
"I trust him. Completely." I answered feeling my anger flare.
"No offense Rachel but look at your history with men. You haven't always put your trust in the right ones. There is something not right about any of this. How do you know he's not in on it?" Ivy stated, grabbing the dustpan of glass from me and going into the kitchen. Why is she getting so worked up about Trent? I thought Ivy had gotten past all of this with him.
"Rache?" I had forgotten Jenks was on my shoulder. I slowly made my way into the kitchen, leaving our intruder behind.
Ivy had started a pot of coffee, seeing as neither one of us was going to be able to go back to sleep especially with our unknown elf on the sanctuary floor. She was sitting in her chair, tapping away at the computer. I leaned against the counter and turned to Ivy.
"I trust Trent. Whatever is happening, he had nothing to do with it." I said confidently. I was trying to keep the anger out of my voice but it was no use. Ivy knew my emotions before I did.
"I trust him too." She said, smirking up at me. "I just wanted to make sure you didn't have any doubts about him."
"She's smooth." Jenks chuckled in my ear.
I wasn't in the mood for vampire trust games. I had bigger fish to fry..or elves for that matter. I walked back towards the living room to retrieve the phone.
"Tell him to get his ass over here before I have elf for breakfast!" Ivy hollered.
"No eating the suspects Ivy." I muttered.
Jenks laughed. "She heard you Rache."
I dialed Trent's number.
"Good morning, Kalamack Industries. This is Sara Jane, how may I help you?" I was put through to his secretary? I couldn't remember the last time that had happened. I didn't think our fight last night was that big of a deal but maybe it was.
"This is Rachel Morgan. I need to speak to Trent." I said politely.
"I'm sorry Ms. Morgan. Mr. Kalamack is tending to a very important issue and can not be disturbed." Sara Jane said sweetly.
I did not have the patience for this so early in the morning. "Sara Jane, if you don't get Trent on the phone right now I'm dumping off 160 pounds of elf at his gate in twenty minutes." I responded just as sweetly.
"Hold please." She said rather abruptly. The elevator music clicked on. I really should tell him to get something better to listen to. Maybe some Takata.
"Rachel?" Trent's voice sounded confused. I wonder if he was screening my calls or if he really was busy. I refused to feel bad for interrupting a business meeting.
"Hey Trent. So I've got 160 pounds of elf for ya. You wanna come get him or shall I drop him off?" I couldn't help but be a little frustrated with him.
He sighed. "We seem to have the same problem."
My eyes widened. "What?"
"He just told you he has his own elf problem witch." Jenks added, listening from my shoulder. "Maybe his is talking? Ours sure isn't saying much." He chuckled.
"What did you do to him?" Trent asked hearing Jenks' comment.
"He was hit with a sleep charm." I said whacking at Jenks to get off my shoulder. He chuckled and flew back into the kitchen.
"How long will he be out?" I could hear Trent brainstorming.
"Until he gets dosed with saltwater." I said.
"Good. Keep it that way. Quen and I will be there shortly." Trent hurriedly responded.
"Okay." I was barely able to say before the phone clicked off.
There were two unconscious elves on the sanctuary floor. What's wrong with having two identical elves unconscious in your church? Everything was wrong about this. I wondered if the I.S. found us if I could be charged with kidnapping? Maybe they would accuse us of cloning or some other genetic practice that had long been outlawed. Identical twins were pretty rare, especially elven ones.
The elves were completely identical down to what they were wearing. Both men appeared to be around the same age as myself, about the same height, with long blonde hair. We had learned fairly quickly that what you did to one the other would have a similar reaction. Jenks had enjoyed testing that theory out with his sword. Trent hadn't bothered to tell me that his elf had suddenly dropped unconscious probably at the same time that Jenks had hit ours with the potion.
Quen had brought out my five gallon container of dissolution but I wasn't sure we should wake them up. I had tried to insist we circle them before dousing them but then at least one of us would have to be inside the circle with them. Quen and Ivy argued with me for a good ten minutes before Trent finally backed me up that the circle was a good idea. I had drawn one with metallic chalk just for good measure and had the vat inside ready to soak the elves.
Just as I tapped the line to put up my circle Trent jumped in.
"Sa'han!" Quen reached for him but it was too late, his hand crashing into my circle. I smiled, my mood getting increasingly better knowing Trent had my back. Quen frowned, moving to stand near Ivy and Jenks waiting to see what was going to happen.
"Ready for this?" I asked and lifted the vat and flung it on the elves. They slowly sat up mirroring each others actions. This was so weird. It was unusually quiet as everyone was focusing their attention on the elves. When a few moments had passed and neither one of them spoke, I turned to Trent.
"Who are you?" He asked them. They both just stared at Trent and did not respond.
"Maybe you can be a little more persuasive..." I said quietly, hoping that Trent got the hint I was giving him. He had used an enthrallment charm in my kitchen before so I knew he was perfectly capable of getting the information from our intruders.
"Are you going to yell at me again for using a black charm in your church?" He asked sharply.
"No." I snapped. "We need the information and I'd rather have it sooner than later."
"You're always yelling at me Rachel, all I ever do is try to help you!" Trent raised his voice. He never lets his emotions show like this. Just as quickly, my anger at Trent hit me.
"Help me! Like the time you put me in the rat fights? How was that supposed to help me Tren-t?" I said hitting the t hard.
"You weren't in any danger!" He exclaimed. "Why do you keep bringing up the past!"
"I had to fight for my life! If I hadn't been in that damn pit I never would have met Nick! I never would have gotten my first demon mark! I might not even know right now that I am a demon!"
"Stop using all these excuses to avoid your feelings!" Trent yelled.
"I'm not avoiding my feelings!" I yelled. My emotions were out of control but I had a point to make. I let the anger continue to wash over me. The elf had another thing coming if he thought I was done.
"You are too scared to admit that you might actually feel something for me other than hate Rachel!" Trent yelled.
"I am not scared! I know exactly how I feel about you and I can admit it anytime I want!" I yelled.
"Hey guys..." Jenks tried to get our attention. I faintly heard him but I had other priorities.
"Shut up Jenks!" Trent and I both shouted at the same time.
"Listen up you stupid lunkers!" Jenks tried again, his attempts going unheard.
"If you would just admit it I would still have all my fingers Rachel! Your demon would have known I was protecting you not hurting you!"
"I told you I was sorry and that I can fix that! Shouldn't you have some ability to do it yourself being an elf and all?" I shouted.
"The world wouldn't know that I was an elf if it wasn't for you and your mother!" Trent yelled, red faced and breathing hard. The voice in the back of my mind was telling me to stop, this wasn't right. Something was feeding our anger but I couldn't stop, all the while ignoring the other elves in the circle.
"Rachel, Trent, you need to stop. There are more important things to deal with now than the two of you bickering!" Ivy added and we both ignored her, hardly hearing her words.
"To the Turn with you Trent! I was cursed to the ever-after because of you!" I walked up and poked him in the chest. "This is all your fathers fault!"
"Sa'han." Quen said.
"You cross a line Morgan..." Trent replied rather calmly. I sliver of fear slid down my spine at his words but I refused to back down.
"No! You cross a line you stupid...hey!" I yelped. Someone had grabbed my legs and tackled me from the back. I went sprawling forward, knocking Trent down in the process and crashed into my circle causing it to drop. Ivy and Quen leapt into action, heading straight for the twins. Everything happened so fast. I heard Jenks in my ear telling me to get my witch ass up. Ivy growled and I heard someone hit the floor in a loud thump. I felt more than one person tap the line and I knew I needed to move faster. I regained my balance and turned in time to see the twins on top of Trent and they were going to jump the line. I couldn't let that happen.
"Shit!" I yelled, jumping forward and trying to grab for Trent but only getting air. He was gone.