“I’m sorry, my handbook must’ve been lost in the mail,” she quipped.
Loch chuckled. “I like you.” He grinned. “You don’t take any bullshit.”
“That’s a new skill,” she admitted. “I’ve never had to face this much bullshit before.”
“Guess you’re a fast learner. Anyway, magic charms are like portable spells people who don’t have magical abilities can use.”
“You don’t have magic? You can turn into a damn bear! That’s pretty fucking magical.”
Loch laughed and shook his head. “Seriously, do you have a podcast? You should have a podcast.”
“It can be a sick twist on Goldilocks.” Holly chuckled, eliciting another round of laughter from Loch. “Go back to the charms.”
“I have a witch friend who makes them for me at a nice discount,” he replied. “This one was a bitch to make.” With great effort, he reached into the neck of his T-shirt and pulled out a thin, leather strap. His fingers, still clumsy from the paralysis powder, lost their purchase. A deep amber stone flopped against his chest. “It keeps me dull to heightened senses.”
“Like bears?”
“Now you’re getting it.” He nodded. “With this, I just have to break in like any normal person would.”
“You say that like it’s somehow a positive thing.”
“This house isn’t well fortified. Johnny, Garret, and Keller are relying on their bear senses to detect any threat. It’s not good enough, as I’ve just proven.”
“How did you even get in?”
“Third story window of the east wing. No one uses it.”
“Can I at least tell the others about that?” Holly asked. “If you got in, who’s to say someone else won’t?”
“Go ahead, just make it seem like you found the weaknesses by accident,” Loch said.
He rolled his ankles and bent his knees. Holly shook out her arms. Her limbs felt like water bags but at least she could move them now. Loch was steadier on his feet. Once he was standing, he offered a hand to Holly. Her legs felt like Jell-O.
“Let’s get you to bed,” Loch suggested.
“How are you recovering so much faster than I am?” she asked as he half-dragged her out of the closet.
“I’ve built up a tolerance. This is not my first mishap with paralysis powder.”
“That sounds like a story I want to hear.”
“Next time.” He grinned.
He lowered her onto her bed. Holly had enough control over her movements to get herself flat on her back with all limbs on the mattress. Loch tucked her in.
“You’ll be fine in the morning. Try not to fall off the bed.” He chuckled.
“I’m not sure whether to thank you or tell you to fuck off,” she replied.
“Do both.” He laughed. “I did break into your house, after all.”
“Good point. Thank you, fuck you, and goodnight.”
Loch gave a little wave and ambled out of the room, presumably to leave the same way he had come in. Holly hoped his charm hadn’t lost its...well, charm. Assuming Loch was telling the truth—which, she was confident he was—getting caught by Johnny, Garret, or Keller would have less than ideal consequences. If Loch were lying...
He’d had multiple chances to seriously harm her and he didn’t. That had to count for something. At least, that’s what Holly told herself.
CHAPTER 22 - Holly
As promised, she was fine the next morning. There was no leftover shakiness in her limbs. Her legs easily supported her weight and carried her back into the closet. She opened it, somehow expecting it to look different on the inside in wake of last night’s conversation but, of course, it didn’t. It looked like any old closet.
Holly grabbed the first of four duffle bags containing who knows what from Garret's sister. It was filled to the point of bursting with socks, tank tops, long-sleeved undershirts, and underwear. Still in the package, never before used underwear. Holly wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Did Garret’s sister buy them for her? Did she already have the packages laying around? Holly glanced at the size. They’d fit her perfectly. She checked the sizes of everything else in the bag.
She couldn’t imagine someone as large as Garret having a sister her size, regardless of whether or not they were related by blood. He must be a giant in his adoptive family. Holly chuckled to herself. She’d like to see that someday.
She rifled through the rest of the bags. Within ten minutes, the closet floor was hidden beneath piles of every clothing piece imaginable. Garret’s sister even packed cocktail dresses and a ballgown. What on earth would Holly possibly need those for? There was one bar in town, and it wasn’t a cocktail dress kind of place if the exterior was anything to go by.
Holly held up a pair of rhinestone encrusted pumps and set them aside, favoring a pair of thick, fuzzy socks. She found a pair of dark-gray, fleece-lined leggings and a white long-sleeved shirt to wear as well. She had no intention of going anywhere today. The rain still pelted down. She heard it splattering against her window.
She doubled back and grabbed a cardigan.
All she wanted to do today was sit near a window with one of Pearl’s non-prophecy related books and decompress.
She didn’t encounter anyone on the stairs or in the hallway on the way to the study. In fact, the house sounded empty. Weird.
She entered the study, selected a book, and padded out to the living room. The high-backed chair near the fireplace looked particularly inviting. She grabbed a thick blanket from the couch and curled up on the chair. The fire was roaring. Someone must be home.
Some time passed, although Holly wasn’t sure how much. She was too engrossed in her book to keep track of such things. Something moved in the corner of her eye. With a yelp, she dropped her book only
