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Book: Witch Risen: A Paranormal Adventure (Bad Tom Series Book 2) by Jill Nojack
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Authors: Jill Nojack
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around, her eyes wide. "Omigod. You did it! Thank you, omigod…you have no idea what she is!"
I race to her without hesitation. I know it's Cassie. There's nothing of Eunice left in her voice or movements. I pull her head to my shoulder and glory in her arms pulling me close. I don't want to tell her this isn't permanent, that Eunice is just asleep. So, for precious seconds, I rock her in my arms, pretending for the both of us that this moment will never end, too overwhelmed to speak.
I feel a hand on my shoulder. Gillian. "Tom," she says softly. "Nat has to talk to her. We may not have much time."
I move to sit beside Cass, keeping her tight against me as Natalie comes forward. Cassie's eyes catch mine when I turn to brush my lips against her hair. "I know," she says. "I can feel her in here. She's not gone, right?"
I pull her closer in response. She sighs.
Natalie moves to question her. "The first thing you said was that we have no idea what she is. You're right. What is she?"
"Whatever she is, she's not my grandmother. She's the thing that was inside my grandmother. Something old, vile, and ugly. But definitely not human. I get flashes of her thoughts sometimes, even though I seem to be keeping her out of mine—it's all I can do against her, but at least she can't find out about any of you from me." She closes her eyes for a minute like she's in pain, then she continues.
"It's mixed up, and I don't always understand it, but she thinks of herself as a goddess. Maybe she is. But sometimes…. There's no word for what she is. But if you could call any creature a devil…" She turns to Gilly abruptly. "Gilly, she has it in for you." She turns back to me. "And Tom, she's planning something even worse for you than what she's already done. You both need to get out of Giles."
I grasp her even tighter. "No. Hell no. I'm going to pull that bitch out of you if it kills me. There's no reason for me to keep going if you're gone." As I say it, I realize I've never before said anything so true. I spent forty-five years hanging on to the hope I'd escape Eunice, but now that I have, if I can't save Cassie too, I might as well be done. Why would I want my life back if I can't spend it with her?
She twists her fingers in my hair, and we lock eyes before we move in again for a kiss. Not the right place, not the right time, but more right than any other kiss could be. I linger there, not caring about our audience. Not caring about anything except her.
When we part, I want to speak, but my throat is constricted with emotion. I communicate with my eyes, and hers return the feeling, unwavering.
Then she whispers, "If you're going to help me, you need to hurry. Because the longer I stay in here, the smaller I feel. It's like she's trying to dissolve me."
"We'll figure this out. I swear it. Just hang on." I cradle her and smooth her hair, unable to stop smiling despite my fears. Cassie's here in my arms. Every moment is a miracle.
Suddenly, her eyes widen, and she trembles. "She's waking up. I can feel her. I'll fight to keep her down, but you have to go! I'm not strong like my granny was. I can't hold her back from hurting any of you." I resist her as she pushes me away. How can I let go of her knowing that this could be our last moment together? "Now, Tom! She's going to do something terrible to you with the box she brought back from Egypt. She's going to do what she did to me." Then she pushes me hard, her eyes pleading.
I need more time so I can tell her how I feel, but I don't hesitate any longer. If I get caught now, I'll never be able to help her. I'll never be able to show her that I love her. That doesn't make what I have to do any easier. I run for the woods, say my words, and shift. A small black cat runs out of a discarded robe and disappears into the bushes at the edge of the clearing.
***
I find a safe place in the shadows and listen in as Eunice wakes up. The wind sighs through the trees, but Cat has excellent
I race to her without hesitation. I know it's Cassie. There's nothing of Eunice left in her voice or movements. I pull her head to my shoulder and glory in her arms pulling me close. I don't want to tell her this isn't permanent, that Eunice is just asleep. So, for precious seconds, I rock her in my arms, pretending for the both of us that this moment will never end, too overwhelmed to speak.
I feel a hand on my shoulder. Gillian. "Tom," she says softly. "Nat has to talk to her. We may not have much time."
I move to sit beside Cass, keeping her tight against me as Natalie comes forward. Cassie's eyes catch mine when I turn to brush my lips against her hair. "I know," she says. "I can feel her in here. She's not gone, right?"
I pull her closer in response. She sighs.
Natalie moves to question her. "The first thing you said was that we have no idea what she is. You're right. What is she?"
"Whatever she is, she's not my grandmother. She's the thing that was inside my grandmother. Something old, vile, and ugly. But definitely not human. I get flashes of her thoughts sometimes, even though I seem to be keeping her out of mine—it's all I can do against her, but at least she can't find out about any of you from me." She closes her eyes for a minute like she's in pain, then she continues.
"It's mixed up, and I don't always understand it, but she thinks of herself as a goddess. Maybe she is. But sometimes…. There's no word for what she is. But if you could call any creature a devil…" She turns to Gilly abruptly. "Gilly, she has it in for you." She turns back to me. "And Tom, she's planning something even worse for you than what she's already done. You both need to get out of Giles."
I grasp her even tighter. "No. Hell no. I'm going to pull that bitch out of you if it kills me. There's no reason for me to keep going if you're gone." As I say it, I realize I've never before said anything so true. I spent forty-five years hanging on to the hope I'd escape Eunice, but now that I have, if I can't save Cassie too, I might as well be done. Why would I want my life back if I can't spend it with her?
She twists her fingers in my hair, and we lock eyes before we move in again for a kiss. Not the right place, not the right time, but more right than any other kiss could be. I linger there, not caring about our audience. Not caring about anything except her.
When we part, I want to speak, but my throat is constricted with emotion. I communicate with my eyes, and hers return the feeling, unwavering.
Then she whispers, "If you're going to help me, you need to hurry. Because the longer I stay in here, the smaller I feel. It's like she's trying to dissolve me."
"We'll figure this out. I swear it. Just hang on." I cradle her and smooth her hair, unable to stop smiling despite my fears. Cassie's here in my arms. Every moment is a miracle.
Suddenly, her eyes widen, and she trembles. "She's waking up. I can feel her. I'll fight to keep her down, but you have to go! I'm not strong like my granny was. I can't hold her back from hurting any of you." I resist her as she pushes me away. How can I let go of her knowing that this could be our last moment together? "Now, Tom! She's going to do something terrible to you with the box she brought back from Egypt. She's going to do what she did to me." Then she pushes me hard, her eyes pleading.
I need more time so I can tell her how I feel, but I don't hesitate any longer. If I get caught now, I'll never be able to help her. I'll never be able to show her that I love her. That doesn't make what I have to do any easier. I run for the woods, say my words, and shift. A small black cat runs out of a discarded robe and disappears into the bushes at the edge of the clearing.
***
I find a safe place in the shadows and listen in as Eunice wakes up. The wind sighs through the trees, but Cat has excellent
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