Anya Bast - Witch Fury

“Sarafina.”

She held a hand up. “I don’t want to hear it.” She turned, her eyes snapping with fire. “And if you ask me if we can be friends, the answer is no.” She swore. It was one of the few times he’d ever heard her use a cussword. “I can’t be friends with you when I. . I. .” She made a disgusted sound and opened the door.

“Sarafina, I have things to say. Sometimes love isn’t enough. You wouldn’t be happy with me. Eventually, I would ruin our relationship and make you miserable—” She whirled. “Oh, bullshit! Theo, that’s such a load of crap.” She stalked toward him, door ajar. “First off, don’t you think I know life with you wouldn’t be all cream and sugar? You’re stubborn and you’ve got a temper. You’re dark and uncommunicative and moody as hell. You’re not exactly puppies and sunshine.” “That’s why—”

She held up a hand. “Oh, you’d better stop right there and let me speak my piece.” Her slight Southern accent had grown thicker with her emotion. “You need to give me some credit for knowing my own mind and emotions. I’m much more familiar with them than you are, and it pisses me off that you presume to know what’s best for me.” “Sarafina.” He stopped, not knowing what else to say. She just didn’t understand.

A tear slipped down her cheek. “Anyway, all that is just more bull. The real reason you don’t want to stay with me is because you’re scared. Every time you’ve let yourself get close enough to trust someone, they’ve either let you down or they’ve died. Your parents, Colleen, Ingrid. You won’t even let the Coven witches in, right, Theo? You can’t even risk their friendship because it’s too much of an emotional investment. It’s just fear, that’s all it is.” She extended her hands. “I’m here and I love you. I would do anything for you, but you’re just going to let it all go, let me go, because you’re frightened.” Sarafina stood there for a moment as if willing him to deny it all, to say something — anything. But all the words were stuck in his throat. Finally, she turned and walked out the door, Grosset at her heels.

“COME ON, SARAFINA, YOU LOVE A GOOD MOJITO.” Maria singsonged her entreaty and waggled the short glass filled with her favorite cocktail in front of her. “And you know I make them the best.” Sarafina eyed the drink. What she really wanted to do was get blindingly drunk so she could forget Theo, if just for a little while. Otherwise she was going to eat the entire pint of Cherry Garcia in her freezer.

In the last twenty-four hours she’d finally cried. All those tears she couldn’t seem to shed for Rosemary after she’d died had arrived with interest. The grief had finally come in an unstoppable flood of deep cleansing, cathartic emotion — the kind that comes all the way from the depths of your stomach. Despite the headache she’d had when it was over, it had felt good to finally vent.

Some of the tears had been for the Coven’s fallen — the ones who’d perished and the ones who’d lost their magick in the battle.

Some of those tears had been for Theo, too. Maybe even more than a few.

She shook her head. “No, thanks, Maria. Go on and enjoy.” “Oh, honey, I know it’s bad when you turn down a mojito .” Maria stared at her for a moment, then whirled and walked to the kitchen, putting the drink on the breakfast bar. “ Dios , if I ever see that guy who played you during such a vulnerable time in your life, I swear I’ll beat him up.” She turned, a hand on her hip. “You still haven’t told me what happened.” Sarafina uncurled her leg from beneath her and pulled her sleeve down to hide one of the small puckered scars she had from being touched by demon blood. Grosset was in the kitchen crunching kibble. It was nice to be home, back in the cocoon of her world, pre-abduction. Even though everything seemed a bit odd — a bit surreal.

“He’s not a bad guy, Maria. You don’t have to beat him up.” “I’d beat up any man that hurt you, honey.” Maria wagged a finger in Sarafina’s face, then flounced down on the couch beside her.

“Did you beat up Alex?”

Maria waved a hand dismissively. “Alex didn’t hurt you. You two were like a carton of milk a week past the expiration date. That relationship needed to be thrown out. Hell, you hooked up with that Theo guy not even a week afterward, right?” She paused and gave her a meaningful look. “But this guy. . well, I can tell you love him, and he broke your heart.” Sarafina ripped her gaze from her friend’s face. “Maybe a little.” Maria made a scoffing sound. “Maybe a lot. Anyway, let’s stop talking about him. You’ll tell me what happened when you’re ready, though, won’t you?” Sarafina nodded. A highly edited version, anyway.

“ ’Cause that was not like you at all,” Maria continued. “You can be impulsive sometimes, but. .” She whistled. “I want to know the scoop on this guy for sure.” “He’s something else, all right.” Sarafina pursed her lips and swallowed hard. She just wasn’t ready to talk about him yet.

After a moment, Maria said, “So are you going to take your full leave of absence, or are you coming back to the office soon?” Sarafina chewed the edge of her thumb, trying to figure out how to best answer that. Thomas had offered her a job at the Coven and she wanted to take it, but the thought of having to see Theo so often was making her consider it at length.

The thought of going back to her cubicle now, though, after all that had happened, made her flat-out cringe. Back to all the non-magickals. Back to everyone who had no idea of the secret side of reality. Sarafina wasn’t sure she could do it. Yet Maria worked there and Sarafina would miss seeing her every day.

Of course, so did Alex and she wouldn’t miss seeing him.

“I don’t know yet, Maria. I’m thinking of a career change, actually. I might take the rest of my leave to look around a little and do some thinking.” “I thought you were tight for money.” Thomas had given her some money, saying it was for her help in vanquishing Stefan and the Atrika . At first she’d turned it down, but he’d been aggressive about it. Sarafina had enough to float for a while as a result. “Uh, I came into some unexpected cash.” “Did Rosemary leave you some?”

Sarafina didn’t answer. She didn’t want to lie to her friend. That’s what made keeping the Coven’s secrets so hard. Sarafina valued Maria’s friendship very much and she hated having to hide this part of her life from her.

Just then the doorbell rang, saving her from having to explain.

“I’ll get it,” said Maria, rising and going to the door.

Theo was on the other side. He looked over Maria’s head at Sarafina, and she touched her hair self-consciously, kicking herself for even caring that she hadn’t done anything to it today besides wash it. She was wearing her old, washed-many-times jersey pajama pants, a soft sweatshirt, and the barest minimum of makeup. At least she’d taken a shower that morning.

Maria cocked a hip and pointed a finger at Theo. “Listen, Mr. Muscle, if you think you can—” “Maria, it’s okay,” Sarafina interrupted.

She turned. “Should I let him in?”

Sarafina smiled and nodded. “Thanks.” Maria shrugged and walked away from the door. “Okay, it’s your heart, not mine.” Theo entered the apartment and stood awkwardly near one of the bookshelves near the door, looking at Sarafina. Grosset barked happily and went to him, tail wagging. Theo bent and scratched his head.

“That’s my cue to leave,” said Maria, gathering her purse. She leaned down and kissed Sarafina’s cheek. “If you want to go to Casey’s one night, like old times, give me a call. We can drink a mojito and scope the men.” She said that last bit with a look of scorn at Theo.