Chapter 22

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

DONOVAN

I 'm a man again. It's fucking weird though. I still feel like I'm a cat and I really miss my snuggles with Silver.

I'm glad to be back home even if it is super fucking depressing. This place is so quiet when Mylie is at school and Myah's at work.

They moved back here as soon as they heard that I returned. Though we haven't disclosed to anyone else that I'm back.

That's just what I need, my father on my back. I can only imagine what he's up to now that he's no longer a coven leader.

Arrow mentioned Alara was missing, but I know exactly where she is. Silver would harness me and walk me down to the dungeons to see her.

She enjoyed taunting and making our old Headmistress miserable. It was quite entertaining until Luke found out and ordered her to stop.

I guess he's planning to release her when she's learned her lesson.

Moving toward the kitchen, I open the fridge for a snack. We don't have many groceries, so I conjure a seafood salad, grab a fork and walk to my room.

I've been holed up in there since I returned and I know it's a disaster. The blankets have all been removed and moved into my closet.

The bed was too big to sleep in alone. I've made a small nest and that's where I head. I don't like to be alone and besides a comatose Wellson, no one is here right now.

Arrow had a meeting with Clara. I guess they want him to take over Blackwell’s job. Not sure he will like it much, but he is next in line.

Playing Desperate Housewives on my laptop, I settle in for my snack. I never thought I'd like this show, but Kane and Silver would binge watch it, and now I'm hooked.

The front door opens and slams shut with such force I feel like there was an explosion outside.

“Donovan Blake, you get your ass out here right this moment. Or so help me God, I will string you up by your toes on the fucking Eifle Tower.”

Jumping up, I hiss at the door. I can hear her footsteps stomping down the hall, getting closer to me.

Leaving my closet I meet her at my bedroom door. Her face is all puffy and her eyes are red. “Liza,” I start. Raising her hand she slaps me across the face, then begins to wail.

Stepping closer to her, I pull her into me, but she pushes me away and pounds onto my chest.

“How could you, Donnie? You disappear for months and don't call me when you return. I am your sister! Do you know how many nights I scried with a crystal trying to find you?”

“I know. I'm sorry. I wasn't ready for anyone to know I'm back. I may be physically standing here in front of you, but I'm not all here… if that makes sense?”

Wiping her cheeks, she gives me a thorough once over.

“You look fine…”

“I've been a cat and I have some leftover side effects,” I blurt out, and her blue eyes widen until she begins to giggle.

“I'm sorry. That's horrible,” she chokes out, trying to stop her laughter.

Rolling my eyes, I push her aside and head for the living room.

She follows and plops down on the sofa with a sigh. When she places her hands on her stomach, I instantly notice how pregnant she is.

“So that's new,” I unhelpfully comment, and she shakes her head, nodding.

“Yeah, we didn't expect to have any more, but surprise.”

“That's great, sis. I'm happy for you guys. You have always been an amazing mom. I would know.”

Biting her lower lip to stop the wobble, her eyes water once more.

“God, these hormones are crazy. One moment I am wanting to murder a cheeseburger. Next I'm screaming at the kids and then sobbing because I love them so much and they didn't deserve to be yelled at.”

“Wow, that does seem like a lot.” I move closer to her and rest my head on her shoulder. My chest begins to purr as she plays with my hair.

“Umm, so a cat? How did that happen?”

“I pissed off the Devil and he turned me into an adorable fluff ball for Silver. It was horrendous. Being so close to her and her not knowing. Though I do think she suspected something.”

“Oh, yeah, why's that?”

“She would slip up and call me Donnie sometimes instead of her pet name, ‘Grumpy’.”

Hearing my name from her lips was like tuna wrapped in bacon. I lived for the days we were alone, and she would pet me and just talk to me.

She told me all her secrets, and how much she missed us.

“Wait? You've been in Hell this whole time?” Eliza sits up and groans, rubbing her stomach.

“May I?” I ask her, moving my hand toward her swollen stomach.

“Of course.”

Placing my hand on her bump, I wait for the first kick.

“Strong,” I mutter as her baby begins to kick up a storm.

“Just like their uncle,” she says with a smile, then pulls me into a crushing hug.

“Don't ever scare me like that again. You are my family, Donnie.”

I nod, and the front door opens with a tornado of pigtails and sequins.

“It's you!” Mylie gasps, and Eliza pulls away looking at the little terror.

“Um, me?” she says, confused.

“Oh, yeah, so we have a baby sister,” I mumble, and Liza's eyes widen.

“Excuse me!”

“Long story, but Liza meet Mylie.”

Mylie doesn't wait for Eliza to adjust to the shocking news, she crashes into us, squeezing her tight and starts to babble about always wanting a sister.

It doesn't take them long to be best friends, and Liza promises to bring her kids over next time she visits. My niece is around the same age as Mylie.

When she leaves, Mylie tells me all about her day and I start to yawn.

“Let's watch a movie and take a cat nap,” I suggest.

“Only if we can watch Elementals .”

“Deal.”

It’s been three weeks now since Kane turned me back into myself, and one week since Liza came to visit.

Things are getting a little bit better, but I still have some side effects.

Christmas is in a few days and I don't even feel like celebrating.

Kane hasn't gotten in touch with us about what we should do to help Silver, and I'm getting antsy.

I don't like not seeing her everyday and knowing if she's okay. I appreciate everything Kane did to return me home, but I’m still a little pissed off it took him so long.

He should have told Silver what Luke did the day he noticed, but he went along with it.

Maybe he was trying to do me a favor. Who knows.

Stretching out my back, I yawn, grinning.

“Don, why are you curled up at the end of my bed?” Arrow asks as I watch him sleep. He moved a bed into Wellson’s room after I returned, and I didn’t want to be all alone across the hall.

Stretching my palms out on his mattress, I arch my back again and groan at how good that feels.

Hopping off the edge, I walk over to him and climb back up, this time under the blanket, resting my head on his shoulder, I rub myself against the scruff of his face, purring.

“This is so weird,” he grumbles, but allows it to happen. After cuddling with Silver for long nights and days, I am craving that physical attention.

“Just accept it. I’m hoping the side effects wear off soon,” I mumble, then begin to purr louder.

“Have you thought anymore about helping Kane? He seems to really love Silver. Not that I can blame him. She’s kinda unforgettable. I know it took me too long to see it, but I wish I could go back and change shit,” Arrow says, surprising me.

“He hasn't gotten in touch, so Luke probably tossed him in the cells. Seems to be his new form of torture. I haven't seen him rip out any spines lately. It's weird now that I think about it. He's softer.”

“You don't think it's because of Silver do you?”

A knock on the door interrupts our weird talk, and I’m thankful for it. Things were getting too heavy, and I’m still a little sour about how she married Luke of all people. Though she does have that memory ball.

“Come in,” I yell, and Arrow lifts an eyebrow at me.

My little sister comes tearing through the door as soon as it opens, dive bombing on top of us. I grab her and pull her into a quick hug as she squirms.

I didn’t realize how much I missed her and Myah. We became close in that little town. I’m glad Arrow went there and brought them back here. Even if they do now live in Salem instead of here at the cottage.

Though now that we've graduated, I guess we will be moving too.

When I returned Mylie had some separation issues, so Myah and her are staying with us for a few weeks.

“Mom made us waffles. Get up!” Mylie squeals as I tickle her sides.

“Seriously, this is my bed,” Arrow huffs and I laugh, letting Mylie go so she can run back to the kitchen.

Getting off the bed, I conjure some sweatpants and a T-shirt, then head out for a family breakfast, ignoring the decorated tree in the corner, and the pang in my chest at who is missing, especially today.

“Happy Birthday, Silver.”

SILVER

I think I have a parasite or something that is making me sick. Not even Merida’s cookies will stay down.

Groaning, I lay back on the bed extremely still. If I shift the nausea hits me in full force.

Someone is screaming out in the hall, and I am about to throw a fireball at them. Can’t they see I’m suffering here?

Giggles echo through the castle walls, and my fists clench. No matter how many times I warn her, Shayna just won't stop the flirting.

I get it Hell is boring and she's stuck here, but find some demon to fuck or something, leave my men alone.

Shit, she could even conjure a man.

A fun fact Kane taught me the other day.

The still air around me becomes heated, and I sigh. Turning my head, I give my husband a smile.

Stepping out of the portal, he holds a tray full of snacks, and what looks like tea.

“How are you feeling, Little Devil?” he whispers, then uses his magic to move the food onto the dresser.

“Still feel sick. Did you have any luck?”

Luke shakes his head, then mumbles a spell, easing me of some of the nausea.

“Where could he have gone?” I whimper, my eyes filling once again.

My cat is gone again, and I miss him desperately. Kane thinks Michel ate him, but I don't think that's true.

“I don't know, baby, but I have Merida and a seer searching for him.”

Luke climbs onto the bed next to me and rubs my stomach.

“We need to get you feeling better or your birthday is going to be miserable.”

“I don't want to celebrate. It's not like it matters. I used to have to share the day and now that it's just mine… It's not the same.”

“What would you do to celebrate?”

“Oh, nothing crazy. Luna used to pick a theme for the party, and then we would go shopping at the mall. We could buy two presents each, and one thing we had to share.”

“What was your favorite present?”

Luke continues to rub my stomach, and the effect is making my eyelids heavy. “A piano, and an easy bake oven,” I murmur before closing my eyes.

“Get some rest, Little Devil. I'll be here when you wake up.”

When I wake up I am feeling loads better. My stomach is settled and headache is gone.

Opening my eyes, I raise my arms into a stretch and smile. Luke is still here like he said he would be.

“Feeling better?” he asks, removing his reading glasses and turning to set them on the side table.

I nod, then lean over for him to give me a kiss.

“Yeah, must have been something I ate. Don't tell Merida that though.”

Luke laughs and shakes his head.

“Wouldn't dream of pissing her off. Kane once insulted her cream puffs, and she locked him out of her kitchen for a year.”

“Oh my God. That's awful, but hilarious.” Luke and I laugh together for a few moments as he tells me how Kane had to rely on his spells to eat.

“Some things taste fine when conjured, but dairy isn't one of them.”

“Yeah, well lately I can't even conjure a snack. Last time I tried Kane ended up covered in melted chocolate,” I grumble.

“You're still learning, Little Devil, but from what I've seen you are advancing faster than we expected. Your great-great-grandmother took six years to get to where you are in a year.”

Rolling onto my back, I stare up at the canopy hanging above us. Luke spelled some stars to shine after learning I missed them.

Luna and I had tons covering our walls and ceilings growing up.

My chest aches, thinking of her and I rub it. Today would have been her twenty-second birthday.

I wonder who she would have been today. If she would have liked the Academy. I was always the studious one, she was into the parties and boys.

I grin at the memory of her trying to switch places with me for a few hours. She had gotten grounded and was going to miss a huge party during our senior year.

She asked me to cover, and since I never planned to attend, I told her yes.

How was I to know that our mother was going to need us both to help her with something.

“I never tire of that,” Luke says, and I turn to face him.

“What?”

“Your smile. I know this year has been hard and the last few months even worse, but you're a light that shines through my darkness. It's refreshing, and one of the things I love most about you.”

“I never expected my life to be this way, but I don't regret choosing you that day. Not only because it saved Wellson's life, but because spending this year here with you and Kane has opened my eyes to some pretty incredible things… Oh and maybe I sorta fell in love with the Devil.”

Scoffing, Luke rolls his eyes, then pulls me into his arms, staring into my eyes.

“Well I can honestly say he fell in love right back. Speaking of my queen, I have a surprise for you.”

Pulling the blanket off of us, he climbs from the bed, and turns, offering his hand to me.

Smiling, I take it and allow him to portal us somewhere new.

“Luke, what is this?” I gasp, looking around at the beautiful music room.

“It's the conservatory. I'd forgotten that you've never been here. I'm not sure Kane even knows about this room.”

Windows cover all the walls and there are so many plants. The smell is amazing and reminds me of a forest.

Luke takes my hand, leading me through a small cobblestone path along a babbling brook.

“Is this all an illusion?”

“No, it's spelled to stay alive, but that's not why I brought you here. This is.”

Coming out from between the trees there is a large space with a white Baby Grand piano.

“I was hoping to maybe hear you sing?”

Tears prick my eyes at his gesture. I have been feeling really off lately. My temper knows no bounds and I needed this today.

“I'd love to sing for you, Luke.”

Releasing my hand, I walk over to the small bench and glide my fingers over the polished ivory.

Luke conjures a chair in front of the piano and takes a seat.

Following suit, I perch on the bench and roll my neck, preparing to play for the first time since my family died.

My piano was destroyed in the blast and I never saw a reason to replace it… But Luke.

“I love you. Thank you for giving me something back from the tragedy.”

He shoots me a wink and I sigh.

Placing my hands over the keys, I begin a soft haunting melody that I used to play.

The words come back to me as if they have been waiting to be sung once again.

As I reach the chorus, Luke sits up straight, leaning closer to me. His eyes gleam as if he's in a trance.

Take me away…

Show me magic and things that can't be explained.

Bring me peace and love, heaven and sin.

With you, I want everything.

So take me away…

As the song ends, I clear my throat and rub my nose. I never did like to have all the attention on me.

That was Luna's thing.

“Little Devil…” Luke clears his throat and stands. With a snap of his fingers, I'm laying on our bed with him hovering over me.

He lifts his hand and pushes some of my hair out of my face. Cradling my cheek, he pulls my lips to his.

He kisses me so softly as if I'm delicate. This is unlike any time before.

“You're perfect, Silver, and I'm sorry for all you have lost because of this curse… I can't bring your parents back, but I can give you something.”

Before I can ask what he means, he's muttering under his breath. A portal appears in our room and he climbs off the bed, offering me his hand once more.

“Come.”

I roll off the bed and shuffle over to him. He seems uncertain about something.

“What are you doing, Luke?”

“I'm fixing something. You were never meant to be just mine. Your heart and soul belong to others, and I'm sorry for just now realizing it. I love you, Silver.”

Pulling me into a hard kiss, he mumbles against my lips, “Happy Birthday, Little Devil,” before pushing me away and right into the portal.

I shout and reach for him but it's too late. Swirls of color flash in front of my eyes, and I have to close them to prevent getting nauseous.

My feet land on something soft. I don't know where Luke sent me, and I’m scared to open my eyes and see.

Taking a few deep breaths, I peek, then cover my mouth.

My eyes sting, and I know I'm about to cry.

I'm here. I'm back at the cottage. Luke sent me home.