Audrey felt like her body was waterlogged as she tried to move. She struggled to open her eyes and when she finally did it took her mind a few minutes to register where she was. She was looking at a low white ceiling with one large crack running halfway across the lower left corner. She slowly turned her head to the left and saw a cute purple door with a full length mirror hanging on the back. There was a poster of a band but she couldn’t get herself to name who they were. Beside the door there was a tall oak bookshelf, packed with books of all shapes, sizes and colors. The top of the bookshelf had pictures of a girl’s soccer team and some trophies scattered around them. The girls in the pictures had mud on their cheeks and smiles on their lips as they held up their arms, cheering over a victory they had fought hard to win. Suddenly Audrey knew where she was. She sat up and realized she was lying in her bed. How did she get to her room? Slowly her memories came back to her and a new surge of anger welled up inside of her. James had drugged her at the hospital. Shaking off the last bit of drowsiness she smacked her cheeks and glowered at the wall.
“I should’ve left him on that trail. I never should’ve helped.” She spat angrily at herself. Then why didn’t you? The tiny voice in her head asked. It was a good question. Why did she help him? Why didn’t she leave him and run away? Thinking about it only made her angrier and as she got out of bed and marched to the door she almost didn’t see the young boy sleeping on her window seat,. She froze, every hair standing on end. Why was he here? Did he think he was welcome here? Feeling rather bold, Audrey stomped over and slapped him across his face as he slept. His eyes flew open in alarm as his cheek was struck. He sat bolt upright and threw his arms out in a defensive position, guarding from an unseen enemy. After a couple confused seconds his head tipped to the side.
“Audrey?”
“Get out of my house.” James blinked slowly and lowered his arms.
“What?” Audrey grabbed him by his sweater and yanked him to the door. She was surprised at how easily she could move him. She didn’t know if it was her anger that gave her the strength or if he wasn’t resisting. When she tossed the door open he walked through without saying a word. She dragged him down the stairs and to the front door. But when she opened the front door, James stopped moving. Audrey glared at him and when he opened his mouth she interrupted him, her voice sharp, putting every bit of hate and spite she ever felt for him into her words.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” He said nothing. “Answer me dammit!”
“I’m still employed by the gypsy. I have to do what I’m told.”
“And she told you to drug me?” James looked down towards his feet, refusing to speak.
Audrey wanted nothing more than to punch the brat square in the mouth, but she forced herself to act calm as she spoke.
“If you ever do something like that to me again, I will do everything in my power to end your life. Now get out of my house.” James obediently walked through the door and as she was shutting it he stuck his foot out to stop it. There was something in his eyes but Audrey couldn’t tell what it was. There was a long silence as the two quietly stood there. Audrey could feel lightning in the atmosphere between them, crackling like a storm. Without a word he removed his foot and turned, walking away without looking back. Audrey spent the rest of the day in the house. Luckily she had only been sedated for a couple hours. The clock on her phone read 2:30 as she sat on the sofa to watch sitcom reruns. by 11:00PM Audrey had watched the first two seasons of her favorite show. There was a knock on the door and she got up to answer it. She wasn’t shocked to see James standing on the patio, hands pushed into the pockets of his hoodie.
“Go away before I get my dad.” Audrey was about to shut the door but something stopped it; James’ body. She rolled her eyes as he pushed his way inside.
“We need to talk.” Was all he said.
“Do we really, though?” James stood directly in front of her. She noticed that he had almost five inches on her. She refused to move and so did he. For a long time they both just stood there. One of them had to give. With a sigh Audrey quietly snapped the door shut and the two of them sat down on the large sofa.
“This better be good.” The tall boy moved closer to her until she could smell him. He smelled of the pine forest and soap, and she thought to herself that it was a refreshing scent. Suddenly she was painfully aware that she was in her pajamas in front of a boy. Even if he was blind she thought about getting up to change into something a bit more modest. James still refused to speak. He sat there, elbows on his knees and his hands clasped. Great talk. She thought to herself as she leaned back.
“The day I met you I noticed that there was something about you that piqued my interest. You’ve completely screwed my life up but I guess you could say the same about me. only difference is I probably ruined yours. You made mine better. I feel like for the past few years I've been chained down but the shackles are off now. I'm regaining free will, the ability to think for myself, I'm actually feeling again. I haven't been in touch with my emotions since I don't know when. You're breaking her spell Audrey. I don't know how but you are.” Audrey stared at the boy, stunned into silence. The air once again crackled as their two energies met. Two unseen forces sparking and igniting each other. Finally she opened her mouth, breaking the silence.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m going to fight for you. I won’t let Auntie take you. I promise.” Audrey threw her hands up.
“Woah what? what the hell do you mean you want to fight for me? Twelve hours ago you drugged me for her! And what spell? are you crazy? Did you hit your head too hard? I've done literally nothing.” The dusty haired boy looked down, as if staring into the past.
“You reminded me that I’m human and I want to live like one. I don’t want to be hired muscle. I’ve lived like a caged dog long enough and I’m ready to get out. You stirred something inside me Audrey. Something that has been lying dormant for years now.” Audrey’s soft, almond eyes grew wider and wider as James spoke. Her heart hammered in her chest blissfully, giving the young girl butterflies. James looked back up and for a moment they just sat facing each other. Neither of them daring to speak and then James slowly started to lean in. Audrey felt like she was in heaven as he kissed her. It was a real kiss, too. No drugging, no faking, no alcohol involved. Just a kiss. James placed his hands on her sides, pulling her body against his, until they were chest to chest and Audrey slipped her arms around his neck. She felt his arms gently squeeze her tighter and his kiss became hungry. Audrey felt amazing until a thought crossed her mind and her blood chilled. She forgot about Brandon. Suddenly feeling guilty she pulled her mouth free and moved backwards, falling over the side of the sofa. She hit the ground rather loudly before quickly sitting up, hoping that everyone upstairs hadn’t heard. James was staring blankly ahead, confused as to what had happened.
“Are you ok?” The young girl stood up and took a couple steps backward.
“I’m fine. I just remembered Brandon. I’m dating him.” James had his usual expressionless mask on.
“You should’ve told me about him.”
“I forgot.”
“Then he must not be important.”
“Are you crazy? I love him.”
“Guess you don’t love him as much as you thought.”
“Excuse me?” Audrey glared down at the man sitting on her sofa. Did he really just say that she didn’t love Brandon? He had no idea how much Brandon meant to her. Audrey sat beside James on the sofa, facing him with her legs crossed in front of her. She glanced up at James, who had resumed leaning on his knees. He looked bored almost.
“I don’t know anything about you.” Audrey spoke up. Her heart was still pounding and she hoped he couldn’t hear the waver in her voice. He tipped his head in her direction, sending Audrey’s heart into another fit.
“What do you want to know?” Audrey thought a moment.
“When is your birthday?”
“November third. Yours?” Audrey began playing with her hair.
“July thirty-first. What’s your last name?” James paused a moment before replying.
“Connor.” Audrey raised an eyebrow. As if sensing her interest he added.
“It’s Irish. I was born on a farm outside of Dunmanway Ireland.”
“How did you really lose your eyesight?” James smiled, actually smiled, faintly and slowly shook his head.
“That Grimoire you read. Remember the legend about the coven holding souls captive?” James didn’t need to say any more. Audrey felt her skin prickle. So that’s why he had to do everything the witch told him. She cast a spell on him.
“But for some reason you are undoing her magic. It’s strange really. That I am gaining back my free will but not my sight. She took my sight when I left her the first time. She begged me to stay and travel with her but I wanted to go home so she cursed my eyesight and when she found me again she trapped me with the binding soul spell. She's been insane from the get-go. She never hired me, she kidnapped me."
“That’s awful.” After a pause Audrey added “So where did you learn to fight?” She could see his shoulders tense.
“That’s a long story.”
“We have time.” James let out a soft snort as he sat up straight and stared off into the distance, as if he were looking back in time.
“Well like I said, I was born in Ireland. My father was Scottish and my mother was Irish, both were very lovely people. I was the second youngest of five kids. I had three brothers and a sister. And, well, everything really started when I was fifteen.”
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