Page 29 of Haunted Hearts

“Milo said he saw a man in a cloak bending over my father and touching his face. And that the dagger was there and it had blood on it.”

He hesitated, not wanting to admit it, but finally told her what happened. He didn’t want to lie to her, especially after he made such a fuss that she was honest with him.

“Yes, that was me,” he said tossing the dagger down atop the wooden table, not even trying to conceal the fact he’d been there.

“So did you – did you curse and kill my father?” The fear in her eyes as well as the anger was too much for him to bear. The woman he loved looked at him in disgust, and it didn’t feel good at all.

He pulled out a chair and sat down, rubbing his hands over his face and letting out a whoosh of air from his mouth. Why did he feel like he was living in hell? When would it ever end?

“Let me explain, Lilly. I came across your father lying on the ground when I was out on one of my hunting trips. I touched your father’s neck to determine that he was already dead and had no pulse. So I closed his eyes.”

“Milo said he saw someone but they ran when he showed up. He said there was a blade on the ground next to my father with blood on it. It had moons and stars on the hilt and a skull carved into the top. He was scared and ran for help. When he returned with the others, the man and the dagger were gone.”

“I told you, I was hunting. Of course, my blade had blood on it, but it wasn’t from Henri. He fell on his own blade, not mine. I dropped it when I heard someone coming.”

“You left my father there?”

“I didn’t flee, if that’s what you mean. I heard someone coming and knew I’d be blamed for your father’s death. I have had enough trouble and didn’t need more. I stepped behind a tree and watched. That’s when I realized I’d dropped my dagger. So when the boy ran for help, I retrieved my dagger. Lilly, I’m sorry, but your father was dead when I got there. He smelled strongly from alcohol. My guess is that he was well in his cups and never should have been atop a horse. Don’t you see? There was nothing I could do to help him.”

“Oh,” she answered, not saying anything more.

“You believe me, don’t you?” It hurt him to think that she didn’t trust him anymore.

“I suppose I do. I mean, yes. But what about the rumors of your family being witches?”

“Aaaah,” he groaned and stood up and shook his head. He couldn’t go on like this, keeping secrets from Lilly. “Yes. It’s true. Partially.”

“I-it is?” She looked scared again.

“It is,” he said, standing in front of her now.

She sank atop a chair. “Blaze? You never told me this. We were so close and yet you lied?”

He knelt down in front of her and took her hands in his. “Lilly, I didn’t lie. Not really. I’m sorry I kept it from you, but I didn’t think you’d understand.”

“Well, I don’t.”

“It’s not what you think. I mean, my mother is called a witch but she’s not evil.”

“What about you?” Her hands were in fists beneath his, but he didn’t pull away.

“I’m more like my father. He was . . . normal.”

“So you don’t partake in any of those things that your mother does?”

“I do once in a while, but it’s really not me. I only participated to make my mother happy. So, no, I’m not a warlock. I mean, not really.”

“I’ve got to go.” She stood up quickly, almost knocking him over.

“Wait,” he called out. “I want you to know that my family is really no different from you and your family.”

“What?” She spun around. “How can you say that? We’re Catholic.”

“And so was my father. It’s all right to be whatever you want to be. Why should anyone force their beliefs on others? And why are we judged by our decisions?”

“It’s just the way it is, Blaze,” she answered, shaking her head. Lillith slowly walked over to him, tilting her head and looking at him from the corners of her eyes. “Did you ever use a spell on me to get me to like you?”

“What? Nay!” He shot to his feet. “I wish you would just give me a chance to show you what we do without judging us.”