Wicked

Chapter Twenty-One

I was in the car, leaning on my elbow, gazing out the window. I was attempting at spacing out. It was the first time I was actively ignoring Gran, or at least trying to. She was droning on and on about how I needed to be safe. She was upset about my escape to the Cemetery. Even when I told her I had been fine, Erik was there, she still didn't like that I "hung around in the cemetery." It was all because another girl had been attacked. Apparently, a girl had been attacked at Ivelyn's Halloween party. This time, the girl had to have several stitches on her neck. She claimed she was bitten.

"Corn, you just never know what is lurking around. It's like the animal that is out there, attacking girls." I felt myself roll my eyes. It hadn't been an animal, but it was a monster that attacked both girls. The first girl had admitted herself into a mental health facility, due to her statement about a man trying to bite her. The second girl said she actually saw the guy's "teeth," as they penetrated her neck. Thankfully, she survived but she had lost a lot of blood.

The Police were still convinced it was an animal and the girls had seen Twilight one too many times. It was still kind of up in the air. Honestly, if this were New York the police wouldn't be questioning the girl's statements as much as the Salem cops were. In New York, there were even crazier things happening. They probably would have chalked it up as some crazy person that sharpened their teeth or had veneers implanted.

"Gran, I was born and raised in New York, I think I can handle one crazy guy with a blood fetish." When I looked back at her, she wasn't impressed.

"I just don't want anything bad to happen to you. I know you and Dara could take care of yourselves in New York, but Salem is different. We have different monsters here." When she said this I was reminded of the conversation I had with Erik. Like a dream, I was lulled back to the other day in the Cemetery.

"Do you want me to tell you why you saw that?" Erik's voice floated towards me almost in slow motion. I felt my bottom lip tremble, causing me to clench my fists. As Erik said this, another crow cawed, causing the others to start up. It sounded like thunder it was so loud. As I looked around I saw feathers flying and wings flapping. They seemed angry. Erik didn't react, just kept staring at me, waiting for a response.

It was now or never.

"Yes." I found myself saying. I gulped at the realization.

Then, as the pressure builds in my heart, it lets me go. Then, the biggest relief I've ever felt surrounds me.

"Are you sure?" He had looked so relieved, but now he appeared nervous.

"Yes, I need to know. I feel like I'm going crazy." If Erik told me the same thing Ivelyn said I would believe him. He had no reason to tell me a lie. Plus, I trusted him.

"I'm a Witch -- Descendent of Tituba," I remembered reading about Tituba in the library. She was one of the first women accused and killed. There were a lot of things that didn't match up with Erik being related to Tituba, but their eyes were the same. It was the look of miserable wisdom.

"But--

"I know it sounds crazy, but from what you've told me I think you would understand." I was shaking my head.

"No, you're not black," I told him. He raised an eyebrow.

"That's what you're questioning? Yeah, Tituba was from South America, but that was also like more than ten generations back." He exclaimed flippantly. It was odd, but it felt like it was just a couple generations back -- not over ten. I rubbed at my forehead.

"Right," I felt a little foolish. Then, I went to ask him about why I could see the things I could, but I stopped. I didn't ask him because I already knew. It was like Ivelyn had told me. The words wouldn't form, yet I knew.