Haunted Devotion

20.

Let's recap, I did something stupid, I went into my  "family's" relic and summoned a paranormal force or person with a come to me spell hoping for love.

Of course I didn't think it would happen but it did.

His name is Nolan and he wants nothing but to be mine and only mine.

The catch? I have to die in order for us to actually be together and him to rest in peace instead of being in death limbo or so I'm told.

Relish isn't my real last name and my family I thought was family might not be family at all.

Linus has become a part of the complicated equation as I have no idea if I feel things towards him as it's been a very complicated situation.

I got suspended from the Relish Organization but since a month has basically passed, I should be reinstated soon.

But the Elrod's did pass away leaving a mess of Linus' future and what's to come as they had him blacklisted.

My anklet that's supposed to keep me from dying entirely from the Death Chaser curse has broken off and gone missing leaving me at death's door.

Now back to Nolan and I...well...I said okay to dying with him instead of the curse but I don't know if I really can give my life to him just to make his undead life better.

We caught up now? Okay, good, because now I need to figure out what the hell to do with it all.

Knocking at my bedroom door brings me back down to earth and seeing the time flickering on my nightstand as it says 7:00 a.m.

"Miss, Linus is here," Gerald says through the door.

Moving to the edge of the bed, deep down, I have to make a choice.

The phone in my room rings before I could get up and meet Linus, having me answer it by hearing Yerlin's voice.

"Gavin is still having issues at his winery and we tried everything," A few seconds later there was a pause, "They want you back working. Gavin's waiting," Then Yerlin hangs up. I put the phone back on the receiver then shower, freshening up scared but determined to make it through at least today without my anklet.

Going to my mirror I apply lipstick, mascara and my favorite necklace just in case death does catch me today while I'm fixing the winery haunting.

"Gerald, the car," Is all I say then grab my relic as it's a must dealing with Gavin's problem.

Linus, still waiting by the doorway, approaches me with something in hand, urgently wanting to give it to me.

"Devlin," He tries to talk to me but I walk past him.

He stands behind me for a minute then jogs up as I'm almost inside the car.

"What the hell was that? Did you really pretend you didn't see me just now?"

I got to see if I can stay away from you if I really want to figure out everything.

"I got called back to work on a case I didn't get to finish. I have no time to talk. Sorry."

Trying to get into the car again, Linus grabs my arm stopping me.

"Can you really believe Nolan? The stories he might have told you about your guys 'history'?"

I'm about to push him away until he shows me an old clipping from an ancient journal.

"I called in the last favor I had and searched up every Nolan there was and the only one that came up was Nolan Ford."

I shrugged," Okay? So he has a last name. Your point?"

Linus points more, "Read Devlin," Placing it into my hands he lets go of my arm watching as I take in all the information scribbled onto the brittle journal page.

Nolan Ford, slave to Rowen White, the Albridge witch of the century, has been bringing Lin White her daughter to death just to take her own child's magic, but of course she can't do it by herself. Nolan, the love barrier between Lin and him, has to do anything just to keep his soul from disappearing even if that means betraying his one true love.

I heard the story from Rowen's old human slave Gerald Wylie.

Not to mention, Lin is Gerald and Rowen's drunken mistake on a very bright full moon night.

Why am I writing this? I've failed to protect Lin for all her lifetime and I'm hoping one day she'll see this and won't trust anyone...not even Nolan.

There was also a rumor about Nolan Ford, he has a half brother.

Don't know of the child's name but it was whispered about that Nolan and his half brother fought for Lin's attention in one lifetime and he killed him just to have Lin to himself.

If Lin ever gets to read this, I'll make sure to keep the balance and the surname Relish might be a gift in disguise, remember that when it comes time you have it but also run as Rowen's death curse transfer to you as you take on the name since she cursed every Relish to death as punishment for them being so magic hungry like she is.

After reading the entry, I look up to Linus with my mouth gaping open, then hear footsteps approaching.

"Devlin," Nolan says, having my head turn to him but then at Gerald who is on the phone with an anxious Gavin.

"We'll talk later," I tell Linus getting into the car slamming the door keeping Nolan out but he transports himself mid drive as I'm going to Gavin's winery.

"Get out," I said lowly so Gerald couldn't hear as I couldn't trust Gerald right now either.

Nolan tries to touch my hands and face but I slap it away feeling tears brim my eyelids.

"You're a fucking sly Casper, I'll give you that. I bet you cut my anklet or something so that I had no choice but to run to you to save me making it 50/50 of the outcome, right? You and Gerald are puppets to Rowen every fucking decade, killing me and taking my soul for magic? To keep yourself from disappearing? Sounds like one hell of a ticket to fuck Devlin over."

Nolan tries to talk again but then Gerald cuts him off unintentionally not knowing he was there by saying, "We're almost there Miss," Having me wipe a tear that snuck its way out and onto my cheek.

"Thanks," I morbidly say and once the car was parked and Gavin was seen pacing, biting his nails, I got out slamming the car door shut behind me as I made my way over to him.