Devils Roses 04 - Witch

her arm in the man's, "Come on I'll get Jeeves to take you home."
    Sam sat at the table. He didn’t know why he was in the kitchen. He couldn’t remember why he had come down there.
    His phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket.
    "Hello."
    "Sam my boy Hanna has told me what you've done. Come to the mansion right away."
    Sam nodded, "Okay Roland." He flashed from the chair before he even pressed end on the call.

Chapter Twenty-Seven
    Ophelia

    The bedroom was dark with candles and a fire lit. The air was always damp on the west coast. She didn’t like it. The east coast was damp but at least it was warm. She couldn’t recall why she listened to Sam. Something about him made her want to smell him and cuddle against him. She wanted to make him happy.
    In the firelight she caught a glimpse of Oliver. He smiled at her from the reading chair next to the hearth.
    "I was wondering when you were going to come and see me."
    She frowned, "I don't really like the way you creep around in my head."
    He laughed and closed the book in his lap. He tilted his head, "I don’t really creep around. It's no different than talking. You just have the ability to read minds. All the strongest witches do."
    She raised an eyebrow and sat in the chair across from him, "Why can't I hear everyone?"
    "You haven’t hit your power yet. At eighteen you'll, well blossom so to speak. Everything will come into you."
    "How do you know so much about me?"
    "I've been around for a long time."
    "So you're really old?" She felt her lips twist into a grin.
    He laughed. His laugh made her happy.
    "Tell me why you're here young lady."
    She shrugged, "I just wanted to see you."
    He leaned forward, his beautiful face softened for a moment, "I wish that were true."
    "It is."
    "Did Tristan come for you?"
    She gulped, "Who?"
    "Your brother."
    She felt her eyes dart to the flames licking at the large stone fireplace, "No."
    "Don’t lie to me Ophelia." He lifted a leg with a shackle, "I only allow this to stop me from killing everyone in here because I need you. Don’t make that not be the case."
    Her eyes grew wide. She gulped, "He came to me."
    "Did he tell you about my son?"
    She nodded, "He said he was his friend."
    Oliver nodded, "His best friend. The only friend your brother has ever had. His life has been a lonely one."
    "What did he do?"
    "He fell in love with the Siren Jonathan keeps as a slave."
    "That’s disgusting."
    Oliver nodded, "He's never understood how to love anything. The darkness filled him early on in our lives here. He became what he is almost as soon as we got here. He let the shadows and taint fill him up."
    Ophelia crossed her arms, "What's your excuse for being evil?"
    His eyes grew dark, "I disagree with our rules. I always saw what Lorri was doing as subjective. She is biased. Dorian has lain with human women. Just because he never reproduced Lorri never killed him."
    "He has a child. Ari is his."
    Oliver's eyes flashed, "You lie."
    She shook her head, "He never knew."
    "Well then you can see the hypocrisy for yourself."
    Ophelia shrugged, "I guess. What's it like where Jonathan lives?"
    Oliver nodded and put his hands behind his head. "So do you want me to draw a map or will you remember the things I tell you?" He looked smug.
    She glanced at him, "What?"
    He laughed. His navy dress shirt and dress pants made him look proper and professional. The loafers were the icing on the businessman apparel. The tattoo climbing from the collar of his neckline and out of the rolled up sleeve made her wonder what else there was to him. His blue eyes sparkled in the orange glow. She noticed he was wearing different clothes, "You go home to change?"
    He laughed, "No I just popped over to my apartment and grabbed a shower."
    "You're vain."
    He grinned.
    Her heart fluttered, "You're like Sam aren’t you? You're making me attracted to you."
    His lip turned up into a lopsided grin, "You're attracted to me?"
    She felt a blush wash over her, "No I mean you're making me feel things."
    He leaned forward brushing his fingers along her fingers, "What are you feeling Ophelia?"
    She shivered watching his long fingers trace lines along hers.
    "I-I-I don't know. You all make me so confused."
    He pushed his fingers interlaced with her, "I can make you feel things no one else could. I think you're meant for me."
    She looked up from their hands to see his face inches from hers. His warm breath fell upon her lips. She licked them and backed away slowly, "You're