Conjured

Chapter 19 - Mourning

Author note: OMG guys Conjured is now ranked #426 in Girl Power! Absolutely love all of your support <3 as usual all comments and votes are appreciated. Lets get Willa's story out there for the world to see! Btw picture above is new character Nick (Robert Sheehan). 

---back to the story---

I sat in that spot in the bush for a long time. I was surprised that no one followed me at first but I guess it made sense. They wouldn't want anything to do with me now. I walked around trying to work out where I might have ended up and decided to pull out my phone. 

20 missed calls. Shit.

At that moment Blair's face popped up on my screen surprising me. I wasn't sure if she'd know so I decided to answer.

"Hello" I murmur cautiously.

"Willa thank god. Where are you? Everyone's been looking for you they're all so worried!" She says with concern lacing her voice. "They're not worried Blair. I don't know how much they've told you but it's bad. Really bad" I whisper even though there's no one around me.

For a few seconds there's silence on the other end of the line before Blair answers, "I know what happened Willa. I'm so, so sorry that you were put into that situation".

I take in a deep breath and feel tears falling down my face. "It was my fault Blair. I forgot how strong I am and I pushed him too hard. I deserve whatever punishment they want to give me but I need some time alone first. I need to think" I say slowly as I try not to make my crying noises obvious over the phone.

"You're not in any trouble Willa. If it's anyone's fault it's Giulia's for leaving you with him. She's older and more experienced, she should've handled it rather than leaving it to a teenager. Please come back Willa we need you here" Blair pleads. "I have to go" I say and hang up the phone. 

Blair means well. She always has but I don't believe for a second that I'm not in trouble. I killed someone. Even if he wasn't innocent, I murdered a fellow conjurer. As I keep walking through the bush I see it clearing up and there are sheep sitting lazily under gum trees next to a trough of water. I'm definitely in the country.

Not too far from the sheep I notice a road so I hop the fence and walk along it, letting it take me where it will as I think. The summer sun is making me boil so I find a tree to sit under and close my eyes. As soon as they close I see Mark. Blood seeping from the back of his head and the ghost of an evil grin on his face. I open them immediately and know that I'm not getting any sleep for a long time. The main thing I can't comprehend about Mark is how he changed so completely from the boy I was in love with mere months ago. I know that the change affects everyone differently but can it also affect their personalities? Had it affected mine?

These weren't questions I could answer myself and knew that I would have to speak to Blair or Emily soon enough. I couldn't face the idea of going home though. The looks people would give me knowing what I'd done. Although Mark had gone off the rails recently, he used to be a kind and caring person, he probably could've been helped if I hadn't killed him.

But I did. Tears fill my eyes and I feel them glowing from the strong emotions and cover them with my hands. Suddenly I hear a car horn and look up to see a young man driving a truck. "You okay there?" he says out the window. I see his eyes grow wide as he looks me over and quickly close my eyes praying for them to change back. I hear the engine stop and a door open and close. When I open my eyes he's standing about two metres away from me and he looks very worried. "Not really" I sigh. 

He looks a bit older than me. He has clear blue eyes and messy dark curls that surround his face. He's tall and lanky with a very genuine looking face. "What happened?" He asks. I laugh at that and he raises an eyebrow.

"You find a girl sitting on the side of the road in the middle of no where and decide to ask what happened?" I laugh. He laughs nervously at that and plays with the corner of his shirt. "Yeah sorry about that. it's just you're wearing a shirt covered in blood and I swear I saw your eyes glow so I'm just a bit worried" He stammers. I look down at my shirt and feel horrified. I hadn't noticed Mark's blood on my top and it makes me feel sick. I need to get this off. "Do you have a spare shirt?" I ask avoiding what he'd said. His head bops up and down quickly and he jumps into the truck and pulls out a big white t-shirt. He faces the other way while I change. 

"Thanks. What's your name?" I ask after changing. "I'm Nick Marchbank. I live on the edge of town, just twenty kilometres down the road. If you need a lift I can drop you at the bus station" He offers. I don't know why I find Nick so trustworthy but for some reason I know he's just a normal small town guy. I nod my head and he grins opening the truck door for me. I hop up and he gets in next to me starting the engine and we get going. "So any chance you want to tell me why you were wearing a shirt covered in blood?" He asks. 

I sigh and look over at his curious face. "I was in an accident and I've been walking for a while. I'm fine but I had a few cuts so fair bit of blood" I explain. My story is weak but Nick nods along. "Oh well I hope your car isn't too totalled. I didn't catch your name by the way?" he questions. This boy has too many questions. "Blair " I lie. "Well Blair you look like you need a  hot meal. I don't want to be forward because I don't really know you but my mum is cooking lunch right now and she always wants to help people so I'm sure we could sort something for you if you like?" He offers. I feel a bit unsure about this because as Nick said, I don't know him, but if anything has been proven in the past few hours its that I'm a lot stronger than I think. Nick wouldn't last a second if he tried anything. And I don't plan on heading home yet, I still can't face the idea of those stares and the rejection I know I will face. "If it's not too much of a hassle that would be great" I say and give Nick a smile. He nods and smiles back.

The rest of the trip is pretty silent on my part but Nick chats away about his family and how he's been working as a truck driver for the past three years for his Dad's company. It surprises me that he's a truck driver at only 18 but it makes more sense when he says that his dad is going to retire in the a few years and he'll take over the company.  

We soon arrive at Nick's house. It's a nice country home with one of those tin roofs that means you always know when there's rain. A dog is barking and running around like crazy in the front garden. We get out of the truck and a fashionable older woman comes out the front door. "Nicholas Marchbank you are late! Oh who's this?" She says looking me up and down. "Mum this is my friend Blair. She's having a bit of trouble at the moment and I said she could come over for lunch and just work out what she wants to do. Is that okay?" He questions. She breaks out into a big smile so similar to her sons. "Of course! Nick's Dad and I have just sat down for lunch so it's perfect timing and I've cooked extra anyway so it's no trouble" She responds kindly. "Thank you so much Mrs Marchbank" I say with a smile. "Really it's no problem. And you can call me Lina" She says with a wink. We walk inside and sit down to a delicious pasta dish. From Lina's dark hair and olive toned skin I'm guessing she's of Italian background. Only Italian's know how to cook pasta like this!

"So Blair is there anything we can do for you? Anyone you need to call or get in touch with?" Nick's dad says after shovelling down all his pasta. "I'm really not sure Mr Marchbank. I don't want to talk to my family and friends just yet. I told them I was taking time to sort myself out but I probably should head home soon" I sigh. "Where are you from Blair?" Lina asks taking our plates. "Camberwell" I respond. "Funnily enough I'm doing a delivery to Hawthorn tomorrow. I know it's not Camberwell but it's close. I'm sure I could drop you somewhere if you like?" Nick suggests. "Thank you so much Nick but you and your family have been too kind to me. I'll just get a bus or train tonight" I say thinking that I'll run back after this. The whole Marchbank family laughs. "Unfortunately the last bus left about five minutes ago so Nick's your only option" Lina says with a shrug. "We have a spare room, I'll go set it up for you and stop worrying Blair it's not a problem" Mr Marchbank says getting up and giving me a small smile before heading down the hall.

I can't help but smile and wish I could stay with the Marchbank's forever but I know it's not made to last.