Chapter 10
Demitri woke long before Felicity. After her outburst the night before he resolved never to ask her that question again. He would not pressure her to become a vampire. There were other ways around their current situation. Last night after Felcity fell asleep Demitri called Kennedy and had a long talk with her. They were able to figure out a temporary solution. Demitri would tell Felicity as soon as she woke up. After the phone call Demitri returned to the bed to find Felicity half awake. She'd been using him as a mattress since then.
He didn't have to wait long for her to wake up. She rolled off of him, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and hiding her face from the light. "How long was I asleep?" she asked, her voice muffled by her hands. Demitri rolled over onto his stomach, looking over at Felicity.
"A long time. I'm not sure. You must have been catching up on all the sleep you lost."
Felicity sighed. In her haste she'd forgotten her pajamas and had to use the hotel bathrobe. She wanted nothing more than a hot shower and a change of clothes. "I'm going to go get ready." she said wearily, taking her suitcase into the bathroom with her.
"A long time. I'm not sure. You must have been catching up on all the sleep you lost."
Felicity sighed. In her haste she'd forgotten her pajamas and had to use the hotel bathrobe. She wanted nothing more than a hot shower and a change of clothes. "I'm going to go get ready." she said wearily, taking her suitcase into the bathroom with her.
When Felcity emerged half an hour later, Demitri was dressed and talking to Kennedy and a woman she didn't recognize. Felicity vaguely remembered Demitri saying something about Kennedy joining them, but who was this other woman?
Felcity walked over to Demitri, who automatically put an arm around her waist. Kennedy offered Felcity a half-smile. Felicity remained stoic, waiting for an introduction. "Felicity, this is Rosa. She lives here in Hidden Springs. I talked to Kennedy last night, and we think she may be able to offer us a temporary solution to our problem with Jackson." Demitri's voice was even. As he spoke he watched Felicity's face for a reaction. He did not get one. Felicity's expression was guarded; her eyes locked on Rosa's face.
Rosa looked at Felicity with curiosity. "Anyway, I was saying I can have a ward ready for you by tonight. I'll need you all to come with me. If you need to, you can stay with me. I have two extra bedrooms I never use. Actually, Kennedy you should go start your car. Demitri, you should pack. I need something from Felicity." Rosa's voice had an odd lilt. Felicity was skeptical about this oddly dressed woman. What was this about a ward? Why were Demitri and Kennedy doing what she asked of them? Why were they going to her home? How well did Demitri know her? Once again Felicity found herself overwhelmed with unanswered questions.
Felicity recoiled when Rosa stepped close to her, reaching out to push Rosa away.
"Relax. Unlike some others, I'm not going to bite you. I just need some of your hair and just being this close to you gives me a better reading on you." Rosa said firmly, pulling out one of Felicity's hairs as gently as she could. Rosa pulled a ziploc baggie out of her pocket and dropped the hair inside, sealing the top and shoving the bag back into her pocket. She turned to look at Demitri. "If you're done here I'll head back to my place with Kennedy and look up what I'm going to need. You come over when you're finished here."
Kennedy and Rosa left after that, leaving Demitri and Felicity to repack what little personal belonging were scattered around the hotel room. When they were finished Demitri took everything down to the car. When he came back up Felicity took his hand, looking over at the spot where Rosa stood several minutes before. "You're sure we can trust her?" Felicity asked.
"Rosa? Yes. Kennedy knows her well, and though I don't know much about them or about Rosa personally, I know enough to know that we can trust her."
Felicity bit her lip. That would have to be good enough.
"Rosa? Yes. Kennedy knows her well, and though I don't know much about them or about Rosa personally, I know enough to know that we can trust her."
Felicity bit her lip. That would have to be good enough.
Demitri found Rosa's house with ease. It was obvious he'd been there before, probably more than once. Rosa answered the door before going over to a large shelf desk thing decked out with all sorts of stereotypical witch equipment. She studied the page she was on before turning back to her guests.
"I've found the spell we need. It should be ready fairly quickly. It takes some time to explain, but I can promise you it's all perfectly safe."
Felicity's brow furrowed. "You're sure?"
Rosa laughed. "Of course. This isn't a spell I've had to perform often, but I do know what I'm doing."
Felicity's brow furrowed. "You're sure?"
Rosa laughed. "Of course. This isn't a spell I've had to perform often, but I do know what I'm doing."
Rosa sent Demitri and Felicity over the the small cottage located next to her slightly larger cottage. She said she kept it for when occasions like this, so they could makes themselves at home. Demitri settled down on the couch. Felicity perched on the coffee table and rested her chin in her hands. "So tell me more about how you know Rosa."
"Alright then." Demitri said, pausing to collect his thoughts. "I've known Kennedy for a long time, but after her mate died she spent a few years just wandering around. I didn't know where she was. I think she spent a decent chunk of time here with Rosa. Rosa is a skilled witch, and she will perform spells for people, or in this case, vampires, whom she likes. When Kennedy wanted to take me to Alaska in the middle of summer Rosa made up some potions that allowed us to spend extended periods of time in the sun. I talked to Kennedy last night, and then Kennedy talked to Rosa and called me back. Rosa will be putting a ward on you that will keep Jackson from being able to find you. He'll be able to track you here, but the ward will protect you. Rosa will know more specifics. I do know that the ward will only work when you're around Rosa, so we'll be staying with her until we decide what to do next. This was the best plan I could come up with and I hope it's alright with you."
"Alright then." Demitri said, pausing to collect his thoughts. "I've known Kennedy for a long time, but after her mate died she spent a few years just wandering around. I didn't know where she was. I think she spent a decent chunk of time here with Rosa. Rosa is a skilled witch, and she will perform spells for people, or in this case, vampires, whom she likes. When Kennedy wanted to take me to Alaska in the middle of summer Rosa made up some potions that allowed us to spend extended periods of time in the sun. I talked to Kennedy last night, and then Kennedy talked to Rosa and called me back. Rosa will be putting a ward on you that will keep Jackson from being able to find you. He'll be able to track you here, but the ward will protect you. Rosa will know more specifics. I do know that the ward will only work when you're around Rosa, so we'll be staying with her until we decide what to do next. This was the best plan I could come up with and I hope it's alright with you."
Felicity stood, pulling Demitri up off of the couch and pressing her lips to his. "This is fine." Felicity was grateful that this plan didn't involve her being turned into a vampire. She could tell he was doing his best and also that he had been very tense. If this was what they needed to do to keep her a member of the living and him from becoming too stressed, she would do it. Besides, if vampires existed then why couldn't magic?
"I'm going to go check on Kennedy. Will you b okay here for a few minutes? I'll send Rosa over to tell you more about the ward if she can come."
The idea of being alone made Felicity nervous but she nodded.
"I'm going to go check on Kennedy. Will you b okay here for a few minutes? I'll send Rosa over to tell you more about the ward if she can come."
The idea of being alone made Felicity nervous but she nodded.
Suddenly grateful for the blinds covering all the windows, Felicity sat down at the table. She took deep breaths, pushing away the panic that bubbled up in her chest. There was no way Jackson had already found her and she wasn't really alone. Demitri and Kennedy and even Rosa were all just a scream away.
That didn't stop Felicity from jumping when the door opened, her heart threatening to beat out of her chest. Thankfully it was just Rosa.
Felicity stood up and walked over to the other woman. "Demitri said you can explain the details of the ward to me," Felicity said, her voice hopeful.
"Of course I can!" Rosa said brightly. "The ward will work as long as I am around to maintain it, so that means you'll be stuck with me for a while. While you have it Jackson will not be able to see, hear, or smell you. I've also made it so Demitri, Kennedy and I are the only supernaturals, if you'll pardon the term, who will be able to see you. This way any of Jackson's accomplices won't be able to detect you either. Regular people can see you, so you'll have to be careful when you go into town."
"So how will you actually cast the ward?" Felicity asked with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"Why don't you come find out? I actually came over here to tell you it's ready." This was obviously supposed to reassure Felicity. Instead it made her stomach churn.