Knot the Witch Next Door (Knotty Streak Omegaverse #3.5)

CHAPTER FOUR – Deacon

“Deacon!” It was the third time my mother called me. I knew very well she could see I was handling hot iron and couldn’t just put it down to see what she wanted. But when mother wanted something, everyone jumped.

I cooled the piece I was working on in the bucket of water, and once the steam had stopped, I set it carefully on the counter and lifted my face mask as I turned to face her. “Yes?”

Mom stood in the garage door that led to the house. Her arms were folded and her impatience clear. “I asked if you got your suit pressed for dinner on Saturday.”

I fought to not roll my eyes. “The suit is still in my closet in the dry cleaning bag from last time I’d worn it and had it cleaned.” A suit that was more than three years old and would in no way fit me anymore. Not that I was going to tell her that. Dressing up for dinner in our own house was ridiculous. I didn’t care who our guests were; not that I knew who they were anyway. “I’ll remove it from the bag tomorrow, so it can air out. It’ll be fine.”

“Good. Everything must be perfect.” Mom started to turn and then looked at me pointedly. “You will remember to be ready early. Our guests will arrive around five o’clock. Don’t make any other plans for the weekend.”

The whole weekend? It was only one meal. “I’m going with Rose and Sam to the Price Orchard and Farm for the photo shoot. We’re leaving at noon. I can’t imagine it will take more than a few hours.”

“Ah yes, the pre-wedding photo shoot. Who did Rose end up hiring to do it?” Her phone was fast in hand as she texted. “These need to be just right for the thank you cards and the table centerpieces.”

Leaving her to my sister’s wedding stuff, I turned back to the twined iron ring cooling on the counter. I’d set up my portable forge in the garage that morning with a very particular project in mind. The piece was looking good, but it was still misshapen, especially with having to set it down too soon. Another hour or two, and it would be just right.

“Dear Lord!” Mom burst out with the most horrendous curse I’d ever heard coming from her, and I startled, turning around with worry. “She has Carmilla doing it? That girl is no professional.”

I sighed as she marched back into the house, closing the door behind her as she called my sister.

Carmilla.

A smile lifted my lips. I’d agreed to go with Rose and Sam to help out, but I hadn’t known Carmilla would be there. Now Saturday was looking fantastic.

I remembered chasing her through the corn maze at the farm. My sister would get scared, but Carmilla was fearless. It wouldn’t surprise me if she convinced Rose and Sam to do the shoot there as she’d always loved the place.

I lowered my mask with a renewed focus. I’d get this trap door ring finished and installed on the tree house by the end of the day. The paint was already waiting in the corner of the garage, and I’d sawed a few boards to replace the cracked ones. I only had to finish this piece as my final surprise for Carmilla.

After two more interruptions, I polished the ring with its witch’s hat ornament. I attached it to the hinge and installed it on the tree house door. Once the boards were fixed, I painted the walls inside with a lush autumn orange. I’d taken a box of glow in the dark stars from Kat’s craft supplies and stuck those to the uneven tree house ceiling.

What would Carmilla think about it? I wanted to be there when she first saw it. To see the joy on her beautiful face and to marvel at the sparkle in her eyes.

But I also wanted it to be a surprise.

I returned to my house with a war brewing inside of me. Should I go over to the Rookwood house and invite Carmilla out to see the tree house, or should I just let it happen and wait to hear about it? I craved to be there to share in her happiness, knowing I was the one who brought it to her. I wanted to be the one to make her smile every day for the rest of her life.

It was ridiculous for me to think these things. We had grown up together, but we didn’t know each other as adults. The most of what I knew of Carmilla was filtered through Rosemary, and she never had a bad thing to say about her, but that surely couldn’t be the full picture.

Last night, I woke several times with my dick hard and throbbing. Dreams of fucking Carmilla every which way dominated, but there were also the ones where we made a life together, had beautiful children, and I held her in my arms every chance I got. Just taking care of her and being together, that was my version of heaven.

Rosemary’s irritated snap brought me back from dreamland as I walked into the kitchen. “Mom, I’m not having a newspaper reporter take the pictures. I’ll not be seen as an editorial piece.”

“But he’s a professional, and he’s the only one I could get to come on such short notice.” My mom shot back as she pulled some sort of vegetable casserole out of the oven. “Everyone is going to see these photos.”

I crept past them, not wanting to be pulled into their argument, and went into the dining room. Kat was setting the table and grinned at me. She came over and hooked my arm to pull me down to her level so she could whisper in my ear. “They’ve been arguing about this all afternoon. Mom went and called another photographer without telling Rose.”

A total Mom move. She liked to be in charge of things.

“Everyone is going to see the photos.” Rosemary’s strong voice sounded like it was in the room with us. “That’s why I want Milla to take them. She loves us, and she would never pick bad ones. Plus, they’ll be more candid as Sam and I prefer. Milla has an artist’s eye. She’ll do an excellent job.”

“Carmilla is an amazing artist.” Kat bobbed her head, still talking in a hushed tone. “She makes all her Halloween products by hand. She’s so talented. She also paints and has paintings in galleries. They’re creepy, and Mom hates them, but I really like them.”

Both of my sisters adored Carmilla, and I puffed up with pride at hearing how skilled of an artist she was. She loved artsy stuff as a kid, and it was one area I could never compete with her, but her love of art in part brought me to a career in metalwork. I loved the challenge and working with the forge, but the creative part of me was inspired by her.

“But she’s not a professional. She’ll have you looking like a ghost in a corn field.”

I almost laughed out loud at that. Carmilla would totally get a kick out of it.

“Milla volunteered to do it for free, even after she’s done so much to help me with the wedding so far.” Rosemary continued to defend her best friend. “She’s saving Sam and I money—”

“You mean saving Edward and I money.” Mom’s clipped response dug into me. It wasn’t my place to say anything about the wedding, but that was fucking low.

Kat shook her head and went back to setting the table. She chewed on her bottom lip, her anxiety making her seem older than her eleven years. Was this what it was like at home while I’d been away for three years doing my apprenticeship? It twisted my gut to think my mom was suffocating the girls with her need for control, and knowing Edward would do nothing about it.

Anger churned in my gut. It was one thing when my mom got onto my case about things, but Rose and Kat didn’t deserve that bullshit.

“It’s already arranged.” Rosemary marched into the dining room and set a bowl of salad on the table.

Mom followed and set down the casserole with a huff. “Edward and I are paying for the majority of your wedding. You will do it the proper way and use the professional photographer, or you won’t see one cent from us.”

“Mother.” I couldn’t take any more of this. It was Rosemary’s wedding. “Carmilla is a professional artist and Rose’s best friend. She’s the best choice for the job. Even if she had never held a camera before, it’s not your decision. It’s Rose’s and Sam’s.”

Turning and leveling her gaze at me, Mom folded her arms. “Carmilla is a cheap amateur. Sam is a doctor and Rosemary is a Graves. What would people think?”

A cheap amateur? Oh no, she fucking didn’t say that. Every muscle in my body was tight with fury. “People will think they’re in love and have supportive friends. And if you insult Carmilla one more time, I will happily support Rose in not only funding her wedding instead of you but not having you involved at all.”

My mom jerked her chin up and didn’t say a thing as she stormed back to the kitchen. I wasn’t going to survive two months at home. I already wanted to leave.

I glanced at my sisters who stood silently, staring at me with wide eyes for daring to challenge our mother. All of us needed out of this house. Well, at least for a little bit.

“Come on.” I walked around the table to place a hand on their shoulders. As much as I didn’t want to be around my mom and had the choice of leaving, my sisters were still here for a while longer. I wasn’t about to let them suffer alone. “I’m taking you two out for dinner. Have you guys been to the new country buffet in town?”

Kat peered hesitantly at me and then slowly shook her head. “No, not yet. I heard they have the best pies though.”

Rosemary gave me a side-armed hug and smiled, relief softening her eyes. “I’m really craving pie right now.”

I ushered them out of the dining room and to the front foyer away from the kitchen. Let my mom cool off. Edward would be home in a little while, and if he was good at anything, it was calming her down.

Things had been different when my father had been alive. My mom had been as sweet as a kitten and he’d been the best dad. Edward was a decent guy, but he wasn’t an Alpha. He let my mother rule as she saw fit, and her standards were impossibly high.

Right now, my only high standards were for a good piece of pie. I needed to protect my sisters from a controlling parent and make them feel safe and loved. A stress-free dinner out was the first step.

The next step? I didn’t know, but I wasn’t going to let my sisters battle our mother alone anymore.