Chapter 205

Tessa’s POV

It didn’t take us long to get downtown. Carter parked the car on the side of the road, and we walked side-by-side until we reached a small shop on the strip. The windows were tinted so it was impossible to see inside the store, but the door was purple with pretty flowers growing in the grass near the front windows.

There was a sparkling and lit-up sign that read: Esmeralda’s Glitter.

It was strange because it was about midnight and most shops in the area were closed, except for this one. At least according to the blinking open sign that sat on the window.

Carter didn’t look happy about having to be here, but he didn’t dwell on it for long. He grabbed the doorknob and turned it, pushing the door open and making his way inside. I was fast following him, trying to stay as close as I could.

I wasn’t sure what to expect; I never met another witch before. Or at least I don’t think I did.

The bell on the door chimed as Carter opened it.

Once we stepped inside, I shut the door behind me and took a look at my surroundings. It was a small store and very pretty. There were a bunch of items that sat on shelves that almost looked like knickknacks, but I knew better.

These had to have been magical items.

There were also a bunch of books and a few different crystal balls.

The front register area was a giant glass case filled with different crystals and stones. Behind the register were shelves of different colored and shaped glass bottles that most likely held potions.

Behind the glass case stood a woman with long black hair that cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. She wore a ton of jewelry, and her clothes were all black and purple. She wore a purple tank top with a black leather jacket and a frilly black skirt with purple fabric in the undercarriage. She wore black knee-high stockings with little skulls on them. On her head was a headband with a tiny little top hat attached to the top of the headband.

Her face was covered in makeup; she had deep purple lipstick and a ton of eyeliner that brought out the emerald green of her eyes.

She didn’t look much older than me and when we approached, she folded her arms across her chest.

“What have I told you vampires about coming into my store,” she asked, pressing her purple lips in a thin line.

She certainly didn’t look pleased to see Carter standing in the middle of her store.

“I come in peace,” Carter said, holding up his hands for her to see.

She narrowed her eyes at him.

“Why are you here?” She asked, his tone going dry.

“You know my tribe doesn’t buy into the battle between witches and vamps, right?” Carter asked, raising his brows at her. “We’d like to co-exist.”

She squinted her eyes at him, but she remained silent.

He sighed.

“I need your help, Esme,” he said, stepping closer to the counter.

“And why should I help you?”

“One of my warriors ate a poisonous plant and I need an antidote. You’re the only one who can help me,” Carter told her.

“My question remains,” she said flatly. “Why should I help—”

Her voice trailed off as her eyes found mine. She studied me for a moment, and I suddenly felt very awkward. My face warmed from the intensity of her stare, and I found myself glancing downward at my feet.

“Is she a witch?” Esmeralda, or Esme, said, still staring at me.

“Yes,” Carter said; now it was his turn to fold his arms across his chest. “She trusts us. So, you should too.”

So, this was why he brought me.

To prove that he was friendly with witches. Even though I just found out that I was a witch the other day. But I don’t think he’s going to tell Esme that bit of information.

“Is that true?” Esme asked and it took me a minute to realize that she was talking to me. “Do you trust him?”

Without hesitation, I nodded.

“Yes,” I answered.

Esme looked at me for a moment longer before fixing her attention on Carter.

“You need a cure?” She muttered. “It’ll cost you.”

“I have money,” Carter said stepping closer to the counter.

She sighed and turned around to go through the potions on her shelf.

She grabbed a couple of different potions. I watched as she mixed them like she was in chemistry class. It was a fascinating sight, watching her work the potions until the colors and textures changed.

Once she was finished, she put a cork in the container and placed the new liquid on the glass counter.

Carter gave her money and then took the money.

“Thanks, Esme,” he said to her with a cheeky grin.

She rolled her eyes at him.

“Whatever,” she muttered.

We turned to leave, despite the fact that I wanted to stay and ask Esme a bunch of questions about being a witch. But I didn’t. I knew now was not the time and that Carter had to get back to the village so he could save that warrior's life.

“What’s your name?” Esme asked before I could follow Carter to the door.

I froze and looked at her, realizing that her eyes were stuck on me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, unsure why I was so nervous in front of this woman.

“Tessa,” I told her.

She narrowed her eyes at me as she processed my name.

“We can’t stay,” Carter said from the doorway.

I managed to pull my eyes from Esme and rush toward the door with Carter.

“It was nice to meet you,” I said over my shoulder before leaving the shop.

By the time we reached Carter’s car, I was out of breath and mentally exhausted from that exchange.

“She was interesting,” I said as I made myself comfortable in the passenger seat.

Carter pulled out of the parking spot, and we drove away from the town.

“Yeah, she’s intense sometimes. But she’s harmless,” Carter said, sighing. “I figured bringing you along might soften her a bit. I knew she’d still give me the potion regardless.”

“How could you be so sure?”

“It’s the same song and dance,” Carter shrugged. “She refuses and I amp up my charm until she agrees.”

I raised my brows.

“Amp up your charm?” I asked. “Like flirting with her?”

He shrugged again.

“Whatever works.”

My mouth hung open.

“Aren’t you pursuing my best friend?” I asked. “You shouldn’t be flirting with anyone.”

“I haven’t had to since before Ruby and I met,” Carter said, his cheeks growing pink. “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her….”

“What exactly is your plan with her?” I asked, peering up at her. “Obviously you can’t tell her you are a vampire, but eventually she’s going to know that something isn’t right. Like when she ages, and you don’t.”

He was quiet and for a moment, I didn’t think he was going to answer me.

“I’m not exactly sure…” he admitted. “I want to tell her the truth so badly, but I also don’t want her to be in any danger if she does know. Bernard was right when he said this world isn’t for her…”

“It might put her in danger, but she’s also stronger than she appears.”

“I don’t doubt that,” he chuckles. “I call her my little warrior because she’s feisty and isn’t afraid to fight.”

“Is that why you like her so much?” I laughed.

“Amongst other reasons,” he said, his smile widening. “I just hope I can tell her the truth one day and not lose her.”

“Ruby doesn’t scare easily,” I assured him. “I would know because she’s kept me as a best friend for 4 years.”

He laughed.

“True,” he said, shaking his head. “Nothing is scarier than you.”

I playfully shoved his arm, and we shared a laugh.

When we got back to the village, Carter went straight to his warrior to give him the cure and within the half-hour, Joseph was joining me at his house.

We spent most of the night together; mainly snuggling in bed and sharing kisses. Around 3 am Joseph gets a text from Anna to head to the beach.

It was a little chilly outside, so I grabbed my favorite hoodie and slipped it over my head before we made our way to the beach. There was a pathway that led to the sand and once we broke through the clearing, the giant bonfire that Bernard was setting up lit up the rest of our pathway until we reached the others.

Anna had loud music playing and tables of food set up. There were vampires and their bloodslave enjoying themselves and I was surprised that the bloodslave looked more like a part of everything than they did slaves.

It was unlike Fae and Ryan’s relationship where Ryan hardly let Fae do anything without him and her actions had to be approved by Ryan.

These Bloodslaves mingled with others, and they looked comfortable. They were eating, talking, and laughing like normal individuals. They looked like friends and my heart warmed at the sight of it.

“Everything okay?” Joseph asked, wrapping his arms around me as we took in the roaring fire that crackled in front of us.

“Yeah,” I breathed. “I was just thinking…”

“About what?” He asked, kissing the corner of my ear.

I turned around to face him, peering up at his concerned and loving face.

“I really want you to make me your bloodslave, Joseph.”

With those words lingering in the air, we stood in silence.