Twice Bitten (Love, Lust & Magic #1)

Griff

felt like he had suddenly awakened from a drunken stupor—and with the hangover to prove it. His head ached as chills ran up and down his body. As he brought his hand to his temples and pressed into them, he was surprised to find blood. “Huh?”

In his mind, he was back at the apartment, grabbing some ibuprofen before heading back to bed. In reality, he found himself at the bottom of a large, empty hole in the ground. It almost resembled a construction site. All he was wearing was his necklace and underwear, a gray robe, and a pair of Pruitt’s house slippers that were too big for him.

He stood atop a smooth rock with graffiti on it that read Lovers’ Lane Lake . It can’t be , he thought to himself. Looking up, wondered if he was where he thought he was.

An almost inhumane whisper interrupted his train of thought. “ No time to stop. ”

spun around in shock before realizing the sound had been coming from a large boulder embedded into the wall of dirt and earth before him. His bloody handprint covered the ancient magic markings on it. That’s when he realized what was happening. Odessa brought me here.

A rush of wind seemed to force ’s hand back onto the rock. He watched as blood continued to drip down. “Stop,” he demanded as he grabbed for his necklace, but he felt the pendant slip away as the clasp undid itself and the pendant floated into the air. “You’ll never be strong enough to come back.”

“Oh, don’t be so sure of yourself, silly witch,” said Odessa from behind her prison of rock and earth. “No one will come for you. Not until it’s too late.”

bit his lip as he tried to pull himself away and failed. “Concentrate. Focus. She can’t control me.”

“I can— and I will ,” Odessa’s laugh rattled through the crater.

attempted to reach for his necklace, but to no avail. It dangled just out of reach. He used his free hand to search the robe for his cell phone, but it wasn’t with him. Would Pruitt and Uriah find out I’m missing? Would they come for me?

“Oh, the things I will do to this world once I return,” whispered Odessa. “Why, I’ll enslave the lesser witches to do my bidding, I’ll exterminate vampires and werewolves, and— who knows —maybe even start my own YouTube channel.”

’s mind wandered back to his casual discussion about Uriah and Pruitt’s ESP link. It never worked between them before, but wasn’t convinced that he was immune to all of their powers. Uriah’s blood had healed him just yesterday. In any case, his options were running out.

?C-can you guys hear me? Pruitt? Uriah? I woke up at Lovers' Lane Lake. I think Odessa hypnotized me and is using my power to open her crypt. And it’s working.?

“ I mean, who wouldn’t want to follow a vlog about the oldest witch in history returning to civilization?” Odessa bantered from behind her stone prison.

“Hate to put in a wrench in your plans, O, but at fifty feet under I just don’t see how you’ll get many subscribers, let alone a reliable Internet connection.”

jerked his head up in response to the sound of a familiar British accent. Donning basketball shorts, bedhead, and his leather jacket, Uriah winked at him from where the shoreline of the lake once was.

“Stupid vampire,” hissed Odessa. Now, her voice seemed to come from every direction. “Trying to save your lover of the week before you burst into flames, are we?”

“Harsh,” replied Uriah. Studying the colors of the horizon, he pulled a pair of sunglasses out of his jacket pocket and put them on. “But, you know, I actually hoped we’d have this wrapped before sunrise.”

“Oh, we will ,” echoed Odessa’s voice.

The purple glow that had hypnotized him earlier spread across the boulder before as it started to crack and warp. As he braced for a magical explosion, another familiar voice brought him comfort. However, this time, it came through telepathically.

?in, it’s me. It’s Pruitt. Can you move??

’s eyes widened. ?Pruitt! I can’t. I-I can wiggle my hands a little. Turn my neck. That’s it. Something is keeping me here. Are you inside my head??

?I think, uh, last night may have helped form the link we needed to be able to, you know ? —?

?I thought it was just kissing??

?Maybe because you’re my witch, it’s different. Requires, um, you know, my, uh…? The werewolf’s telepathic voice seemed to trail off.

?M-maybe. Anyway, she’s using my blood, Pruitt, and my necklace. She’s about to be free. Like real life, in-the-flesh free.?

As the ground shook violently, fell against the cracking boulder.

Uriah’s concerned voice echoed in the witch’s head now. ?Cover your face, .?

Pulling his face between his arms, let out a holler as he was violently tossed through the air by a magical explosion. “Shit!” He braced for an impact that never came. Instead, he fell right into his vampire’s arms.

?Got you. You all right, little witch??

nodded as the vampire placed him on his feet. They were now together at the bottom of the lake bed. ?Where’s Pruitt??

Uriah shook his head as the dust settled.

The two looked on in horror and surprise as Odessa stepped out of her crypt for the first time in hundreds of years. While her trademark white hair was dirty and falling out, it was her only recognizable feature. Instead of maintaining her beauty and youth, she looked much more like a human body in the process of decay. “Well, this isn’t exactly how I expected to look on my big day,” she said as she examined her arms and torso.

“Surprise, surprise,” Uriah said in an icy voice. “The outside finally matches the inside.”

“Nothing this won’t help with,” hissed Odessa as she revealed ’s necklace in her hand. “Besides, what’s a little magic transfer spell between family?”

balled up his fists. “That doesn’t belong to you anymore, Odessa.”

“Oh, no?” Odessa asked, her eyes moving from the pendant to and Uriah. “Seems quite fond of me, actually. But I’ll need more than this old thing to get what I want.”

“Always so bloody selfish,” Uriah shouted. “Think that’s why you ended up alone, buried, and forgotten, you old ninny?”

“Alone?” The evil witch shook her head. “I’m never alone; I’m eternally bonded to my familiars. You should know that, Uriah. After all, you’re one of them.”

The vampire hissed. “Just like that necklace, I don’t belong to you anymore, either!”

Holding up the pendant, Odessa grinned. “And just like this necklace, I can still control you. Let’s see what you’re so afraid of, vampire.”

Uriah’s pupils vanished as he found himself engulfed in a familiar blinding white light. “G-,” he stuttered. ? I’m—she’s t-taking control of me. ! ?

Goosebumps littered ’s body as the weight of the vampire’s words hit him. He felt Uriah grab his hand, an innocent act of helplessness at first. But as the grip tightened, he could sense the gravity of the moment.

?Pruitt, don’t come here,? cautioned. ?Odessa is controlling Uriah.?

Pruitt’s tone was tense. ?What? , run!?

Unable to break free of his grip, turned to face his vampire lover. “There will be no running,” said Uriah before sinking his teeth into him.

felt the sharp sting of blood draining from his neck. “Ri, no! Stop! Remember who you are!” He shouted to no avail. “Familiar you are, and familiar still you shall be; relinquish all your commands…”

“No!” Odessa screamed. “Enough!”

“Fa-familiar you are,” whimpered, his eyes closing as he became lightheaded. He remembered what Old Mother Madge had told him: if he was powerful enough, he could just think of the spell and it would become true. Just think of the words. Just... just…

“Wow,” quipped Odessa. “Who knew this is all I had to do to get rid of that annoying little brat?”

Purple flashes illuminated the vampire’s eyes and he fell backwards, freeing from his grip. Uriah spit up as much of the blood as he could. “I-I’m so sorry,” he whimpered as his eyes returned to normal.

grabbed for Uriah’s hands, helping him to his feet as the vampire dug his fangs into his arm. “Don’t be. I know it wasn’t you.” ’s mouth was still open as the vampire shoved his bleeding wrist into it.

With a flick of her wrist, ’s spilled blood lifted from the ground and floated to Odessa. “Let’s not let a good thing go to waste,” said the evil witch as the droplets absorbed into her rotted flesh. “Oh! I can see why he’s been so hard to resist, Uriah.”

again felt Odessa’s invisible arm pulling him toward her. “S-trying to take me now!” he cried out as he slipped through the dirt and rock.

“Not on my watch.” Uriah quickly scooped up and held him close against his chest.

Uriah dug in his boots as he entered a magical tug-of-war for . Odessa’s power created almost a vacuum effect, one that sent dirt and debris flying in a whirlwind of terror. “Hold on, little witch!” he demanded, his teeth gritted as the pinks and oranges of sunrise pushed through the tornado of rock, mud, and forest.

realized Uriah couldn’t hold on much longer. ?Ri, listen to me.? He leaned forward and pressed a kiss into the vampire’s cheek. ?Uriah, please. There’s not much time. Please let me go.?

His familiar gave him a stern look. ?No. No way in hell . ?

?She’s too strong. The sun is coming up. Please. Please don’t let me be the reason you die.?

With Odessa now holding out her frail arms, Uriah slipped to his knees in an attempt to maintain his grip on his lover.

Uriah telepathically pleaded with . ?After all this? After everything that’s happened??

felt himself choking up. ?Be brave, Uriah. I-I know you can be.?

could see that his familiar’s eyes were watery. “B-but I just got you back,” the distraught vampire cried out, his voice cracking as the wind picked up.

The tone in Uriah’s voice broke ’s heart. “Trust me,” was all he could yell back.

Uriah pulled ’s face close to his as he adjusted his body weight. “I trust you,” he mouthed as he ran his hand across the witch’s face. Before could reply, he felt the wind take hold of his body and pull him away. A sulking Uriah was alone now, only the robe remaining in his grasp.

The supernatural windstorm came to an immediate stop as felt Odessa’s bony, rotting hand grab hold of the nape of his neck.

“And here I always thought it was only Pruitt who was stupid enough to act on his emotions.” Odessa sent Uriah flying up into the air, suspending him just high enough so that he was at eye level with the near-breaking dawn. “Young, foolish witch. Didn’t I tell you that a vampire could never be trusted?”

Uriah flailed in the air. ?Pruitt, a little help? Left my sunscreen at home.?

suddenly picked up Pruitt’s voice again. ?Distract her, .?

“Please, bitch,” replied, struggling in her grasp. “The only way you can survive is by draining power from someone else. What makes you any different—or any better—than a vampire?”

“For one, I don’t play with my food,” Odessa said with a cackle. Tiny electrical waves ran over ’s body and through Odessa as she tightened her hold on the back of his neck.

sent out a telepathic SOS. ?She’s doing something to me!?

Leaping from what was once the shoreline, a naked Pruitt transformed into the Silver Wolf in mid-air. watched in awe as the wolf dove straight for Odessa. Before he could brace for impact, he felt his feet once again hit the ground. The evil witch’s agonizing screams filled the ravine.

“, move!” shouted Uriah from above.

turned in time to see Pruitt toss aside the rotting arm that just seconds ago held him in the air. The Silver Wolf’s jaws had ripped it clean off of Odessa’s failing body. “Filth!” she howled.

“ Atta boy! ” Uriah cheered from his suspended state. “Finish her.”

Pruitt pounced on her once more.

“Oh, no you don’t,” Odessa cried out as Pruitt immediately transformed back into his human form and was tossed aside like a rag doll. Seemingly on a short supply of power, Odessa’s transformation spell caused Uriah to drop from the sky and land in a pile of dirt.

“Damn, I’m always the fall guy,” cursed the vampire.

looked from Pruitt to Uriah as the two familiars moved to flank him. ?Guys, her power—it’s weakening. I have an idea. We’re connected now, right??

?Guess we literally had to—you know—be inside you to make it work, so, uh, yes?? replied Uriah.

Pruitt shot Uriah a dirty look. ?Guess so. What’s the plan, G??

?I think I can channel my magic through all of us.? “Hold my hands and concentrate,” said aloud as he reached for both of them. Pruitt took his left hand, while Uriah hesitantly enveloped the other.

“What a cute little coven,” Odessa derided the trio as she telekinetically retrieved her severed arm. “Unfortunately for you, the sun is already coming up.”

Uriah examined the watch on his other wrist. “Actually, we’ve still got about?—”

“ Uriah ,” said pointedly as he squeezed his hand.

“Right, sorry,” replied Uriah. ?You said concentrate. Concentrate on what??

closed his eyes to focus. ?My power.?

“I hate to break it to you, blood of my blood, but I’ve had hundreds of years of practice perfecting my powers. Your silly little crash course in witchcraft will help with nothing,” Odessa said as she dangled his necklace out in front of them. “Especially without this. But please, give it your all.”

Pruitt reassuringly squeezed ’s hand in his. ?You’ve got this, G.?

At first, tried to not to break his concentration. That plan quickly failed. ?Shit. Do I??

?This goes against my signature tough guy act, but I find that it’s my emotions that give me the most strength, whether it’s supernatural or otherwise,? Uriah chimed in. ?Whether I’m angry, hungry, or—I don’t know—protecting someone I care about or, you know, have, um, strong feelings for.?

inhaled deeply, opening his eyes and focusing in on his captive necklace.

Pruitt nodded. ?He’s right, G. I’m blessed to say that I’m fighting side by side with the two people who mean the most to me. It makes me feel stronger. On top of that? Werewolf, vampire, witch—we all come from the same magic. Your magic. We’re yours, . Let us help you.?

The heightened urgency of the situation, coupled with Uriah and Pruitt’s sweet confessions, brought to tears. They pooled in the corners of his eyes before trickling down his cheeks. As the young witch tilted his head down, he caught the moment that a lone teardrop touched the ground below him. Like a mystical seed being planted for the first time, it sprouted into a quick flash of purple electricity that swirled around him like a twister.

“Guess what, Odessa? You’re right,” finally spoke. “You may be more advanced, more powerful, and a stronger witch. You may even have my necklace. But there’s one thing I have that you don’t.”

“Oh?” Odessa laughed. “And what’s that?”

The electric current ran along ’s shoulders, torso, legs, and arms. It spilled down to his fingertips and engulfed Pruitt and Uriah simultaneously. The feeling it brought with it was scary at first, but felt something different about his magic this time.

“The most powerful emotion of all,” replied . “ Love. ”

With that, he pulled away from Pruitt and Uriah and—pointing both palms at his target—sent a blast of purple electricity into Odessa. The force of the power sent his necklace flying—and with the flick of his hand, the young witch telekinetically retrieved it.

“My source of power isn’t a wand, a magic book, or some family heirloom,” said, quickly pulling the necklace chain over his head so that it rested on his neck. “It’s vampire, werewolf, and witch.”

“But the power belongs to me, ,” said Odessa, her voice traveling around the ravine as though she were an ethereal force.

“Not for long. I just need one more thing,” replied . He concentrated hard, his skill paying off as he caught Odessa’s severed limb in his hand. “This is gonna be a little gross, so bear with me.”

“This that spell you were telling us about?” Uriah asked as rubbed the pendant into the dried blood on his neck. He followed it up by squeezing what looked like ancient crimson clots out of Odessa’s arm and onto the gem.

“Blood is power and power is in the blood,” began. “Take this blood and with every drop, magic’s seed sprouts anew her crop…”

“Foolish!” Odessa screamed. “You know not what to do with such power.”

“Original Magic nurtures our family tree, these ancient powers pass now from you… to me.”

dropped Odessa’s arm, both of his own immediately falling to his sides as he closed his eyes. ?Guys, it’s real.?

Pruitt looked to . ?What’s real, G??

Uriah nudged the witch when he didn’t immediately respond. ?Little witch, you in there??

?I feel it inside of me now. Magic. Original Magic. It’s not hers anymore. It’s—it’s mine.? ’s pupils shined a supernatural purple when he finally opened his eyes.

“Pruitt, I think that’s our cue,” whispered Uriah. The two placed their hands on ’s as his necklace sent out a purple bolt of power that caused even the First Witch before them to tremble.

“Don’t even think—” Odessa couldn’t even finish her sentence. Instead, her rotting corpse disintegrated with more timeliness than a staked vampire. The magical thunderbolt disappeared as the gem at the center of ’s necklace cracked in two places.

“Holy hell!” shouted Uriah. “You nailed the dusty old hag.”

“That’s the second ex I’ve seen turn to dust in twenty-four hours, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say it never gets old,” added Pruitt.

’s familiars pulled him into a hug. He savored the moment and squeezed them as they chuckled and laughed.

“Here,” Uriah offered up his wrist again. “I hurt you. Finish up your little drink now.”

knew the vampire wouldn’t take no for an answer and quickly ingested his blood. The faint pain in his neck faded as fast as the puncture marks.

“We did it, you guys!” Pruitt exclaimed.

The tone in ’s voice changed. “B-but—it broke.”

“Huh?” asked the werewolf.

“What broke, little witch?”

“The gem. Right here in the middle.” held up the pendant. The three watched in surprise as the center of the necklace continued to change. The rough edges created by the cracks disappeared and formed uniform, equal diamonds. “Just like Old Mother Madge told me…”

“Oh, don’t tell me this is some magical celebration of our unbelievably unorthodox, uh, relationship ,” said Uriah, realizing he may have jumped a little ahead with that last word. ?Guess I don’t know what to call it.?

Pruitt nudged Uriah and gave him a look.

“I’m technically part of the mind-reading club now, Mr. Vampire, remember?” said as he pulled the necklace over his head and let it once again dangle against his chest. “And while I guess the magical terminology ranges from—oh, I don’t know, a witch and his familiars to the Power of the Triad—I think we can start with boyfriends.”

“ Boyfriends?” Uriah bit his lip as he looked from Pruitt to .

“Oh, yeah. Three of us, so… Boyfriends ,” Pruitt repeated.

“I mean, if that’s okay,” said with a shrug.

“Well, can’t say that I’ve ever had a boyfriend before, let alone two,” began Uriah as he winked at Pruitt and gently cuffed ’s chin in his hand. “I love it.”

“Not to steal another one of Uriah’s cheesy moments—which I am loving, by the way—but I think boyfriends is perfect,” chimed in Pruitt as he wrapped his arms around ’s shoulders and pecked Uriah’s cheek.

“Well, gents, I hate to cut this very sweet moment short, but there’s one quick thing we should address,” said the vampire as his wristwatch started beeping.

“The fact that our boyfriend is once again teasing us with this jockstrap?” joked Pruitt.

’s face went red as he realized that—without the robe—he was out in public in nothing but slippers and his underwear.

Pausing to do a once-over of ’s lean and slightly muddied frame, the vampire smiled. “Well, yes, we’re most certainly going to punish him for leaving the house like that.” Uriah jokingly spun around to examine him from behind. “Damn.”

“You were saying, Ri?” said with snark as he spun back around to face Uriah.

“Oh, uh, see,” Uriah fumbled over his words, obviously distracted by ’s body. “I-I lost my sunglasses somewhere down here and the sun is about to rise. One last time though, babe, please?”

Uriah gently guided around in a full circle once more to examine his rear. felt his cool hands cup him from behind as he pressed a kiss into his neck.

“We can argue over who gets first dibs back at my place,” said Pruitt as he, too, showered his witch with kisses. “Let’s go.”

“Oh, wait,” lifted a finger, summoning Uriah’s sunglasses into the palm of his hand. They were missing a lens. “ Now we can go.”

The gentle pitter-patter of rain accompanied the typical Friday night soundtrack of Mystic Hollow’s lively Campustown neighborhood. The weather was no deterrent as students packed the streets to mingle with friends, wait in lines at popular restaurants and bars, and peruse the nightlife offerings.

An umbrella in one hand and his phone in the other, in Kyler walked casually down the sidewalk as he carried on conversation. “A wild first week of school is right, mom. You wouldn’t believe everything that’s happened even if I told you.” He looked both ways as he entered a crosswalk and hurried down the next street.

The witch glanced at his phone as another call came through. The screen read Incoming Call - Uriah Black . “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Oh, and what do you mean by special someone , huh?” lifted the phone up again as another vibration caught his attention, the screen now reading Incoming Call - Pruitt Mondamin . “Well, uh, there are a few someones I consider special right now, actually, but I think that’s a story for another day.”

rolled his eyes as he listened to his mother’s response and eventual goodbyes. “I promise. And I love you, too, mom. I’ll fill you in on all of that tomorrow, okay? I…” He paused as the same chubby tabby he had met on his very first night in Mystic Hollow crossed his path. Is that who I think it is?

Finally, he snapped back to reality. “Yeah! You, too, mom. Have an amazing night.”

“Meow,” the cat purred as he rubbed against ’s leg. He hung up the call and placed his phone in the front pocket of his jeans before bending down to pet his feline acquaintance.

“You again, huh, Prospero?” he said as he scratched behind the cat’s ears. “Don’t suppose you’ve got a sexy, broody human form like all the other familiars I’ve run into so far in this town, huh?”

The cat meowed again before quickly darting between the two buildings closest to . “Well, I suppose that is a shortcut to Witch’s Brew—and I am running late.”

A welcomed voice filled ’s head as he followed his four-legged friend. ?Are you playing with pussy again, G??

?Pruitt Oliver Mondamin! I’ll have you know I’m a gold-star gay.?

caught the sound of his favorite South London accent. ?Do I even want to know what that is??

The witch realized he must be in close enough proximity to pick up telepathic messages from both of his boyfriends. ?Google it, boys.?

Uriah’s voice echoed in ’s head. ?Well, since we’re only thirty minutes before showtime, the real question is where is my biggest—ouch, Pru—I mean, uh, second biggest fan??

?I’m cutting across Campustown to get to you now, Ri! I’m between that old grocery store and Club Eternity, so like two minutes away.?

His werewolf jumped back into the conversation. ?Huh, sounds familiar.?

?You know how I feel about you lurking around by yourself, little witch. Do you even know what kind of wackos are on those back streets?? Uriah’s voice was rife with sarcasm. could even hear him chuckle, which caused him to stop and look both ways. It sounded as though it was his ears that picked up the laughter, not his mind. But no one was there. He was alone.

?Wow. So, our shared ESP even comes with a laugh track??

It startled him to hear their voices now coming from behind him, both speaking in unison. “You’d be surprised.”

It was a dark and stormy night—the kind straight out of a B-movie horror flick—but instead of one boogeyman waiting for the na?ve college freshman walking through an abandoned alleyway, there were, in fact, two .