Of Witches and Warlocks: The Complete Series

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

"I'm not sure what's going on here Sean, but is there a reason you're trying to get my wife to run away from me?" Vance said, folding his arms.

Dad advanced threateningly and I placed a hand out to restrain him, not to protect Vance, but to protect him.

"You know exactly why I want her to leave!" he spat out, the venom flashing in his eyes.

Vance turned to look at me with a half shrug. "Would you care to enlighten me? Because I honestly have no idea what he's talking about," he spoke rather calmly considering the circumstances.

"I'll show you, but you'll have to let me in mentally," I said, watching him.

"Fine by me," he replied, the barrier between us suddenly dropping down.

Letting the memories of my dream flow into his head, I retreated from his mind as soon as I was done. Either Vance was becoming a very good actor, or the shock was real.

"I didn't do this!" he said immediately, straightening as he glanced between my dad and me.

"That's bull!" Dad argued.

Vance stared at me. "Portia, I'm not responsible for this," he stated calmly, trying to convey his message to me.

"I believe you," I replied, and my dad threw his hands up in exasperation, clearly agitated.

"How can you be so blind to the truth?" He stared hard at me. "You saw him, you felt him do it!"

"Dad, I'll do whatever possible to help you find out who Babs's killer is, but I'll do it from here, by Vance's side."

"I give up," Dad replied dejectedly, looking at us before he strode out of the room. "Just stay away from all of us! Both of you! Do you understand me?" His voice carried from the living room. "I don't want either of you around anyone in the coven right now!"

The door slammed behind him and I couldn't help myself, bursting into tears once again.

Vance gathered me to him in an instant. "I'm sorry, baby," his voice crooned softly. "This is my fault. I'm screwing up everything in your life."

"Don't talk like that!" I replied cuddling against him. "I need you to be here with me."

He simply held me while I had a good cry, but as soon as my tears began to dwindle he scooped me up and carried me to the bed, laying me down gently.

"Go ahead and ask me the question burning in your head," he said, while he watched me.

"Where were you?" I asked, needing to hear it from his mouth.

"I went for a ride up the canyon on my motorcycle. I realize that isn't much of an alibi, but I needed to clear my head and try to think things out. I seem to be able to do it best after feeding, so I took advantage of that and left. I swear to you, Portia. I did not kill Babs." His eyes searched mine.

"Something about the vision didn't seem right to me, though I don't know exactly what it was," I responded, trying to explain.

"Well, one thing's for sure, someone is hunting this coven and they're determined to make it appear like it's me. We need to find out who it is before more people get hurt."

"My dad won't even let us around them. How can we possibly protect them?"

"We'll do it whether they want it or not. I'm not going to let Sean being a jerk stop me from doing what needs to be done."