Shadow Witch

Chapter Eight

    "Again Summer," Ryker calls out from across the field.

    I aim a ball of energy at his shield and watch as it shatters to little pieces before reforming itself and soaring back to my hands.

    "Why can't I actually hit you?" I complain, forming an even bigger ball of energy.

    "Because you're angry at my brother, not me. I'm not getting hit for his stupid remarks."

    "So the next time you make me angry I get to hit you?" I ask before flinging the new energy ball at his shield.

    "How would that be different from any other time?"

    He's smiling while saying it, but I drop the energy ball anyway. "Am I really that aggressive?"

    His smile drops off his face, "Am I supposed to be honest?"

    "As opposed to what?"

    "Telling you what you want to hear."

    "Is that something you guys do often?"

    He scratches the back of his neck, something him and his brother do when they get nervous.

    I sigh and turn towards the house, "Let's go."

    I hear him move through the grass to catch up to me, "Where are we going? No better question, do I want to know where we're going?"

    I wipe my lips when I feel a smile form, "We're going to Ryhes' office."

    "Why?"

    "Because we can get everything out in the open without the other feeling like magic is going to be involved. Apparently you're afraid of me."

    Ryker grabs my shoulder and stops me, "I'm not afraid of you using your magic on me Summer, I can handle that. You just have a way of saying things that you probably shouldn't say when you're angry."

    "I'm just telling the truth."

    "Imagine if Ryhes was around someone that you really didn't like. Someone that you didn't understand and made you feel threatened. How would you feel if he told you he wasn't going to listen to what you had to say because it was his choice to do as he pleased."

    "You're trying to put me in his shoes." I grumble and look up towards the sky.

    "You should have done it on your own, but you don't because you've never been there before. If you didn't care for Ryhes you wouldn't be so angry. I've seen you with those other guys, one time they get mad at you or you fight and you drop them like they were nothing. There was never any anger either, just a simple goodbye. You need to understand his side if you're going to get through this."    

    I sigh.

    "Can I hit you? Just once?" 

    I'm only half joking and I think he knows it because he smiles but takes a huge step away from me.

    "Go talk to him Summer."

    I continue walking towards the house, "And no hitting!"

    I smile and open the back door, "No promises."

    I step inside and close the door behind me before shutting my eyes and doing the one thing I said I never would. I feel for Ryhes' magic, wanting to know exactly where he is. I get pulled towards the basement and follow the rope. 

    I stop at the door and take a deep breath, then open it.

    Hard rock pours out and I smile slightly, thinking of the panther that lives below ground. Holland always called it his lair, I call it his geek cave.

    I walk down the steps and stop at the bottom. Holland and Ryhes sit with their backs towards me, watching pictures flash across the computer monitors that line the whole back wall. They must be looking for the license plate number.

    It hits me then, I should have been down here with Ryhes looking for his sister, like I promised. Instead I was outside pouting and throwing magical energy balls at his brother, hoping a little to break through his magical barrier.

    I swear I'm not usually so aggressive.

    At least I don't think I am.

    My feet move before I tell them to, they stop me behind Ryhes' chair. I reach a hand out and caress his neck softly. He doesn't turn, but he does lean back a little more.

    I let out a breath, "Hey Ryhes, can we talk."

    "We're a little busy Summer."

    It shouldn't hurt so much, but it does.

    "I'll call if I find anything." Holland says, more then likely not understanding what's going on.

    I squeeze his neck, "Please. We can put out that tracking spell."

    His big body sags into the chair before he takes a breath and stands. He turns, doesn't make eye contact and walks up the stairs.

    "Don't blow it before it's even started," Holland says to his computer screens.

    "Don't you have a job to do?" I grumble following Ryhes up the stairs and to his office.

    I close the door softly behind me and take a deep breath before turning around. He's not looking at me, instead he's flipping through a few books that Uncle Ryan must have left on his desk.

    I sit on the corner closest to him and rest a hand over his, making the flipping pages stop. His eyes finally meet mine. I expect anger and maybe even sadness.

    He's disappointed with me.

    "Tá brón orm mo ghrá," his eyes widen but I continue. "I didn't think about how you felt and I'm sorry about that. I really don't like being told what to do, but I didn't think about how uncomfortable it might make you feel. Can we compromise?"

    He looks up at me and I lift my hand from the book and caress his jaw, he nuzzles my hand and turns his head to nip at the fleshy part of my palm, "No promises."

    "I wont go there without you."

    He sighs, "Summer-"

    "No Ryhes listen," I move from his desk to his lap. I take it as a good sign when his arms wrap around me, "I get things done because I am able to go there. Not many people can do what I do. Asking me not to go there is like asking you to never shift again, especially when you're in danger. I promise though that I wont go without you."

    "Not even once?"

    "I swear Ryhes I will not go to the Soul Plane without you there."

    "What happens if you get called again like you did today?"

    I shrug, "I live with it till you show up. Dante wouldn't be too forceful, he'd probably even get that I was busy. I understand why you don't like him, I thought it was jealousy at first, but it's not is it?"

    He shrugs, "Maybe a little."

    I smile, "Well there's no reason for you to be, but I also get that you don't know him and all the stories you've heard about over there aren't great, and they all aren't like him. I have met a few that would be what you expected. Dante wasn't put there like all the others, he was forced to be there. He wasn't a good man when he was alive and he messed with the wrong witch. A woman he thought was human put him there when he told her he didn't love her the way she did. From what Dante says, she was obsessed."

    "And you believe him."    

    I shrug, "He's never given me a reason not to Ryhes. Just like you said I've never given you one not to trust me."

    He lets out a heavy sigh and drops his head to the back of his chair, "Alright."