Gwyneth Stevens - Enchantress Part 16

Chapter 21.

I rode home with Caleb. Pallo forced me to. I tried to get in the car with James, but Pallo lifted me out and put me in the back of Caleb's SUV. Thankfully, I hadn't had to look at Justin when I came out. He'd gotten a call and had to leave. At least one thing went my way.

Caleb had tried to give me a hug when I first came out. I couldn't do it.

I wasn't sure what I was feeling but I knew hugging him wasn't what I wanted to be doing. He didn't say anything when Pallo tossed me in the back of his Explorer. He just started it up and pulled out of the Star Dusk Motel parking lot. Pallo and James stayed behind to handle the manager.

Boy, was that guy in for a surprise. I wondered if they had a poltergeist clause--probably not.

Caleb adjusted the rearview mirror. Green eyes stared back at me from time to time.

"What else do you want me to say, Gwen? I explained it all to you. G.o.d, even Justin explained it to you."

"Yeah, Balec ... he explained everything about you. I don't know you at all. I let some f.u.c.king faerie pull one over on me! I am so stupid! This entire relationship was built on lies." I hardened my face. "I want out of it, now!"

Caleb slammed on the brakes. The cars behind us followed suit. If we weren't both immortal I would have been p.i.s.sed. Caleb pulled over to theside of the road and cut the engine.

"Gwen, I had a life before you ... after you I mean. What was I supposed to do, sit around for the rest of eternity in mourning? How the h.e.l.l was I to know you'd show up one day? I should have lived like a monk, is that what you expected of me? Should I have held out for centuries in the hopes that my dead lover would return?"

The outburst wasn't what I expected of him and he knew it. I'd thought that Caleb was the one person in this world that I could trust most, no matter what. Now, I knew I'd been wrong.

"Gwen, look at me. I didn't do anything I swear."

"Every time you left for nights on end, supposedly working, were you doing 'nothing' then too?"

Caleb slammed his hands on the dashboard. "GWEN, I didn't do anything. I haven't been with anyone but you since you came back into my life. Can you say the same?" The trump card had been tossed into the mix. He knew I'd slept with Ken at least once since I'd met him. He was with me when I did it. Hurting me to protect himself was a valid response to the situation. That being said, it didn't p.i.s.s me off any less. If he wanted to throw stones--I'd throw stones!

"No, I can't say the same. In fact, I've got a surprise for you too, Balec."

"Gwen, don't do this. My name is Caleb and you know it. I just moved the letters of my name around and use that when meeting with informants or....

I put my hand up. I didn't care how or why he used the name Balec. I would have cared to know ahead of time, that was all. "Well, Caleb the Saint. That is what the history books will remember you by, and I will get to say I knew you ... and I was one of the lucky ones who you f.u.c.ked, because I knew your real name." He tried to reach out to me. I kicked the back of his seat. "You b.a.s.t.a.r.d! You ask me to marry you and put so much pressure on me that I couldn't think. You made me feel like I was about to lose you if I didn't make up my mind then and there, then you run off and have a harem of chicks waiting in the wings." I slapped my forehead."d.a.m.nit, Caleb we shared power, exchanged magic. You f.u.c.king tied me to you even though you didn't want me. Was this all to get back at Pallo?

Was winning this time around really that important to you? If you didn't want me, you should have said something. I would have done you a favor and played along--no need to bind me to you then. This is just great, Caleb." I glared at him. "You really are your mother's son."

I was beyond disgusted. I opened the door and climbed out. There was nothing for miles around us. The freeway had remained sterile and undeveloped all these years. I didn't care. I walked across the dark field. I just wanted to get away from Caleb before we said any more hurtful things to each other.

I heard his truck door slam and then my name as he shouted it. I ignored him and kept walking. I felt the hot sensation of his power as he struck me with it. It felt like a rope was being wrapped tightly around me.

There, of course, was nothing there when I looked down but I could feel it. He was going to hold me still until he was done talking to me.

The wind caught hold of his black hat and blew it off his head. His quick reflexes let him s.n.a.t.c.h it before it blew out onto the highway. He looked at me and his eyes burned with rage.

"Let me go, Caleb ... drop the magic."

"No, I'm like my mother after all, and she's the head sorceress. Why shouldn't I use it then I could be just like her?" He came up to me and had to stoop down to put his face in my face. "Gwen, you've had things your way long enough. It'd serve you right if I did f.u.c.k other women. You are hardly one to talk, Gwyneth. I know you still have feelings for Pallo. I worry every time I walk out the door that you won't be there when I get back. I don't understand you. It's like you do everything you can to push people away. Oh, men are good for s.e.x and that's it. G.o.ds forbid one of them loves you and wants to spend his life with you. No, you like a good f.u.c.k, but no commitment. That makes you a...."

I was so mad at him that I wanted to push him out into the center of the busy road. Maybe getting hit by a semi would knock some sense into him.

"I'm a what? A wh.o.r.e? Is that what you wanted to call me, Caleb?" He looked away. I pushed against his magic with my own but had no luck lifting it. "Answer me, Balec ... oh, I mean, Caleb. I'm interested inhearing your perspective. After all, you did have a women's hand in your f.u.c.king pants tonight. The phrase takes one to know one seems fitting here."

He raked his hand through his long blond hair and shook his head. "You're pushing me away--again! Why don't you want to let me in, Gwen? Taim i ngra leat--yet you don't care!" His green eyes narrowed on me. "My mother was right. You are a faerie wh.o.r.e who doesn't care about anyone but herself."

My jaw tightened. Caleb had officially removed the gloves. This was about to get ugly--okay, uglier. My nostrils flared as I let my rage build.

Caleb clenched his fists before his face softened a bit. "I didn't mean that, Gwen. I'm hurt, confused, and...."

I laughed. "No, you said exactly what you meant, Caleb. I'm a wh.o.r.e. A wh.o.r.e who up until two months ago hadn't had s.e.x in half a year--the man prior to you was my f.u.c.king fiance! Never once did I stray from him.

Never once did I ever entertain sleeping around. No that began when you and Pallo came on the scene. I was happy before you! I didn't feel any burning need, any holes in my heart. I was content not knowing about my past. I was fine not loving you! You show up, out of the blue, with vampires, crazy sorceress mothers and all your other supernatural bulls.h.i.t and then am shocked to find out I'm conflicted. You and Pallo expect me to be something I'm not--the Gwyneth you both knew died. The only thing here is the wh.o.r.e you both made me.

And while we're on the subject, here's one for you ... this afternoon Ken f.u.c.ked me on my desk, and..." Caleb's face jerked back to me. "Oh, and let me nail the lid in the coffin while I'm at it, no pun intended ... You know you're little fear about Pallo and I? Well, it was oh so warranted!

I f.u.c.ked Pallo, more than once. Hey, imagine the coincidence, I was f.u.c.king him--again while you were running around doing your Enchantress wh.o.r.es. Yep, looks like you're right. I am a wh.o.r.e. Happy that you held me here now? Are you pleased that you shared your power with me? You'v e bound yourself to a wh.o.r.e who you hate. How's it feel, Caleb?"

Caleb and his power dropped to the ground. I took a step back from him. Ishould have felt victorious. I'd won the verbal sparring match. I felt the exact opposite, I felt like a piece of c.r.a.p.

I dropped to my knees and pulled him to me. His body shook and mine followed suit. I'd said such horrible things to him. Things that were twisted and laced with hate. He was right. It was my way of keeping him at bay and avoiding commitment. "Caleb, baby, I'm sorry. This isn't what I want. I didn't want to hurt you. We both said things that were ugly ...

I'm sorry."

"Were you ever going to tell me?" he asked, quietly.

I stroked his hair and put my head against his shoulder. He didn't touch me. "That I slept with Ken? Yes, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."

He kept his head down. "No, I don't give a s.h.i.t about Ken, he's not a threat ... I mean Pallo. Would you have ever told me about you and Pallo?"

I went to say yes, but stopped and thought about it. "No."

He pulled away from me and covered his face with his hands. I should have made a move to touch him, to comfort him, but I just sat there. I was sick, both literally and figuratively, and tired. I couldn't fix this. No one could. I didn't single-handedly bring us down, but I sure played the larger role in our demise. Walking away wasn't an option. At least not anymore. We'd shared magic, cemented a bond that between faeries was unbreakable. Above that, as much as I wanted to pretend like I didn't care about him, that I didn't love him the same as Pallo, I knew I was wrong.

"Caleb?"

He ignored me. I couldn't blame him but it still hurt. So much had been laid on the line, the wounds so fresh--there was nowhere to go with my feelings. Normally, I would have cried in his arms and then made love to him, but that wasn't going to happen. He couldn't even stomach looking at me.

Caleb's cell phone rang. He didn't answer it.

"You'd better get that, you don't want to keep the honeys waiting fortheir hunk of burning Balec."

He shook his head. "Don't do this to us, Gwen."

"Me? This is all my fault? I'll take the majority of the blame, but not all of it. Besides, what else could I possibly do? I'm a horrible person, remember? Oh, I know the wedding is off, not that I needed to verbalize it. I'm sure you gathered as much on your own. So, consider this my final attempt at pushing you away."

My insides twisted and turned. Why was I like this? Why did I say such ugly things to him? All I really wanted to say was that I loved him and I was sorry, yet those were the very words that escaped me.

Caleb rose slowly from the ground and looked at me. His green eyes were swollen and tears stained his cheeks. I couldn't breath. I'd done this to him. I'd hurt him, no one else. Disgusted with myself, I turned and walked away from him.

"Gwen, did you ever love me or was I just a subst.i.tute until you and Pallo could work out your differences?"

What the h.e.l.l was he talking about? I wanted to marry him. Was he insane?

"Caleb, you know the answer to that already."

"Do I, Gwen? Because that's what I feel like. I feel like your relief batter. A nice warm d.i.c.k to keep around until Pallo comes to his senses and opens his arms to you. That's exactly the way you make me feel."

Spinning around, I glared at him. "No, Ken was the subst.i.tute! You were just good for free labor ... well, maybe not free. I did pay you with s.e.x." I didn't mean a word of it but I was hurt. I loved him more than life itself but my pride prevented me from telling him.

Suddenly, the air around me felt hot, too hot. The hairs on my arms stood on end. Caleb was losing control of his power. His fists clenched tightly at his sides. He was trying to get a hold on his power, but the ever-climbing temperature surrounding us told me it wasn't working. He had enough power to destroy us both if he wasn't careful.

"I'm sorry, Caleb." The air around me thickened, I put my hand out to him. "I didn't mean that ... I love you, and I was just hurt that youweren't honest with me. It's not just that ... I hate myself for hurting you. There's no excuse for my behavior, but you should know that I do love you. I did want to be your wife and start a family."

The earth beneath my feet shook. I staggered backwards and just missed falling. "Caleb?" It was too late. He had no control over his power and if I tried to fight him with my magic, I'd risk killing him. He stared down at his hands and then looked up at me with pain filled eyes.

"I'm sorry too, Gwen. I love you and I wanted to be your husband." He held his hands out. "Pallo will take care of you now ... I love you."

Oh, G.o.d!

He was going to take his power into himself--draw his magic into his body. He would not survive that. I did the only thing I could think of.

"I love you and I picked you. Always remember that in the end I wanted you and only you ... not Pallo. I loved him, but wanted a life with you!

I wanted to start a family with you, Caleb. I wanted it to be you walking through that door every night and our children running up to greet you.

I'm sorry I hurt you." Choking back tears, I used my power to draw his away from him and to me.

"GWEN ... NO!" He lunged for me. It was too late. The scalding hot blow of his magic sent me airborne. I felt like I was being burned from the inside out and probably was. The last thing I remembered hearing before the darkness surrounded me was the sound of Caleb screaming for me.

Chapter 22.

I had brief moments of alertness. Pallo's face greeted me each time. I would wake to find him tipping cups of broth to my lips. Once, he was washing my arms down with something cold. I tried to reach out and touchhim but my arms weren't working for me. I closed my eyes and let sleep come.

I couldn't be sure how long I'd slept, but by the looks of Pallo it'd been a long time. When I opened my eyes, I found him sitting with his head back in a chair next to my bed. My arms finally cooperated with me and I reached out and touched his hand. He sprang into action and was next to me in a flash. He kissed my forehead.

I squeezed his hand gently. "How long have I been asleep?"

"You have been here for over a week."

Over a week? I pulled his hand to me and kissed it. "You were here the whole time. I could sense you by me." I didn't say it aloud but I had also sensed that Caleb had not been around me.

Pallo moved my hair out of my face and sat on the bed next to me. "When we found the two of you on the side of the road Caleb a.s.sumed he had killed you. Taking his power into you was foolish, Gwyneth, very foolish.

He was right about you being dead. I had to share my blood with you and that was not even enough to bring you back." He touched my shoulder and ran his finger down the length of my arm. "I had to sink my fangs into your flesh. To do that while one is dead, and to share blood as well means...." He touched my neck lightly.

My fingers traced up his arm and found the spot he was touching. My eyes widened. "Am I ... a ... am I one you guys now?"

Pallo smiled. "There is something in your faerie blood that prevented you from turning. Part of me hoped that would be the case, you had lived with Giovanni for many years and he can be a wicked man. If he treated you anything like he treated everyone else then I would have to guess he tried to turn you as well and you were not a vampire when I met you."

Pallo was trying to justify saving my life. That was unnecessary. "Pallo, it's okay. I understand. You did what you had to do. I know that, and you stayed with me."

Tears came to my eyes and I was powerless to stop them. I cried because of Pallo's concern and care, and I cried for the events of the last few weeks, but most of all I cried because I'd lost Caleb. Pallo leaned downand kissed my forehead.

"Gwyneth, he blames himself for this." To Pallo, reading my thoughts was second nature. I was used to it. "We found him holding your dead body to his chest. James had to physically drag him off you because he did not want to let you go. His love for you is great and his hate for himself is equally as strong. He did not come here because I do not think he could face what he'd done. For the first few days you were ... unrecognizable."

I tried to sit up. My body ached. Pallo helped me to get into a semi-comfortable seated position. He retrieved my light yellow robe and brought it over to me. I tried to stand up but my body wasn't ready for that just yet.

Someone knocked softly on the door. I looked up to see James standing there. He glanced at Pallo and then at me. He flashed his legendary s.h.i.t-head grin at me and came running towards me. I thought for a minute that he might try to pick me up and I so wasn't up for that. Pallo moved away and let James sit next to me on the bed. He put his hand out and touched my back.

"How ya' doin', kiddo?" James leaned in and squeezed me gently. "You b.l.o.o.d.y-h.e.l.l better never think of pulling a stunt like that again."

"Which stunt is that? d.a.m.n near getting you killed by your boss?" I looked at Pallo. I hated referring to him as James' master and he knew it. "Or dying?"

James laughed, "Don't worry, 'the boss' over there went easy on me. But, you, what the h.e.l.l were you thinkin' absorbin' all Caleb's mystical magic into you? Are you daft? Doing 'at is suicide."

"James, I love it when you get worked up, you can tell you're not from around here. You go all British on me."

"G.o.d save the Queen," Pallo said, laughing softly.

James and I sat there staring at him, stunned. He wasn't a comedian normally so hearing him crack a joke took us both by surprise.

James laughed and nodded towards Pallo. "Hmm ... Gwen, maybe you shou lddie more often. It lets him flex his Florence Nightingale muscles. I couldn't get him to wear the s.e.xy nurse's uniform. Though I did try."

Pallo appeared confused by James' comment and that made me laugh so har d that my sides hurt.

Chapter 23.

It took another two days for me to feel up to leaving my room. I was thankful that they had stayed to help me. James turned out to be quite the little household helper. He'd taken over cooking and laundry duties.