Chapter Twenty Three: An Almost Kiss

Their breakthrough discovery didn’t help with the current predicament. They still needed to know how to save Suzan, because even if they found who was behind it all, they didn’t have much time. “Finding the grimoire isn’t going to help any.” Cedric said with an aggravating nonchalance. “They might just kill her and you. No one wants a living and breathing Vancsura around.”

“So, we’re back to square one.” Lorraine said, putting her hand together, and letting out a breath.

“Look, this isn’t square one. I mean, think about it. At least we have a lead.” Aiden tried to comfort her with his words. He hated seeing her like that and not being able to help her.

“Cedric has a point.” Bates said, taking them by surprise. “They might kill her and you.” He was deep in thought for a second, “But we can fight them.” His suggestion was met with a firm nod from Aiden, but a questioning eyebrow from Cedric. Bates gave him a look, “Two vampires and a deathless, I think we have a chance.”

Lorraine gave Cedric a doubtful look, then turned back to Bates asking him with her eyes if Cedric would be willing to go to such an extent to help them. Cedric didn’t leave her to wonder for long when he said, “And what’s in it for me?” He turned to Bates with cold eyes, “Why should I help her, fight for her.” He scoffed, making the idea sound completely ridiculous.

Bates gave Cedric a look, and Aiden was about to say something, but Lorraine interjected, “I honestly don’t know.” She directed her words to him, holding his eyes with hers, “You have no reason to help me, but you didn’t kill me until now. There must be a reason for that, and I’m hoping that, whatever it is, would be enough for you to help me save my mother.” If Cedric was touched by her words, soft tone, and pleading eyes, he didn’t show it. So, Lorraine added, “Please, I know I mean nothing to you. But for some reason you’re helping out. You want to figure out what’s going on here. So…” She felt the lump in her throat and the brimming tears risking to fall. “Excuse me.” She got up and left.

There was a heavy silence, one could cut the tension in the air with a knife. “I haven't killed anything in too long anyway.” Cedric mumbled under his breath. “How many of them are out there?” His question was directed to Bates, who smiled at him. He saw something in Cedric that no one else could see. It was the time they spent together, or perhaps he had higher hopes in him. But Bates couldn't help but notice the slight flicker of humanity that Cedric had shown as a reaction to Lorraine. He wondered if Cedric somehow came to care for the girl. *“He didn’t know her for that long.”* He dismissed the thought immediately, satisfied that Cedric would be helping at all.

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Cedric was the first to leave, he told them they would need something to resemble the grimoire. He said he had a plan and it required a decoy grimoire. Therefore, he left first and Bates decided to go with him. Partially because he had nothing useful to do, but there was another part of him that worried Cedric might bail on them. Aiden was left with Lorraine, a choice he made for her protection mainly. “Do you think… Do you really think I’m a witch?” She stuttered the question with a sad tone. “Do you really think everything I’ve ever known was a lie?”

Aiden looked at her with equally sad eyes, “I don’t know. But does it really matter?” She turned to him with a questioning gaze, noticing how close they were to each other and for the first time she noticed the hazel rings around his irises. “Because I don’t think it does. Being a witch should not define you, because you will always be you no matter what happens.” She nodded, giving him a small smile, but she didn’t believe his words. Lorraine knew if she really was a witch then everything would change. Her entire life would become different. Aiden’s eyes drifted to her lips; it was a desire that had been growing within him for some time now. He moved closer to her, slowly to give her the chance to pull back. When she didn’t move, he took that as a good sign, so he inched closer.

“Aiden.” She whispered his name, and he felt her breath brush softly by his lips. It only managed to increase his desire to taste her lips, to feel her body against his. He was so close, their lips were almost touching, when there was a knock on the door. It broke the moment and awkwardness cascaded on them both. Lorraine bit her lower lip in embarrassment; she couldn’t believe she was that close to kissing him. Another knock, made Lorraine jolt up, “I… There’s someone at the door.” She said stupidly, at least it was how she felt. She strode to her front door leaving Aiden behind with a frustrated sigh; he already knew who it was.

When she opened the door she found Judy standing on her doorstep with the mascara running down her face from her tears. “Did you hear about Mike?” She asked once she saw Lorraine’s face. When she gave Judy a small sad nod, Judy broke down and threw herself at Lorraine hugging her tightly and crying on her shoulder. Lorraine wrapped her arms around the girl, and rubbed her back comfortingly. She didn’t know what to say, she had never been exposed to death or been in a situation where she needed to comfort someone over the loss of a loved one. Her life was very normal, she had always thought that nothing bad would happen, nothing drastic at least. She remembered calling her life boring at one point. She wished for that boring life to come back.

They got inside, after Judy had calmed down she noticed Aiden’s presence. “What are you doing here?” She was genuinely confused at his presence, but her tone was unintentionally rude and slightly snappy. He didn’t answer her question, giving Lorraine a look to tell her what she wanted to share. Part of him was quite upset at Judy’s interruption. Aiden had been curbing his feelings for Lorraine for long enough; Bates had always told him that he was patient, but that patience kept decreasing with every moment he spent with her. Also, there was something, he didn’t know what it was exactly, which made him want to have her as soon as possible. It made him feel like he would lose her if she didn’t become his soon.

Lorraine gave her a small smile, “He’s helping a bit. My mom… she’s been missing since wednesday.” One thing Lorraine decided, or rather discovered, she was good at was lying. *“It isn’t a total lie though.”* She argued to herself. *“It’s just hiding bits of the truth.”*

“Oh my God! That’s why you didn't show up at school?”

Lorraine nodded, “I thought Dr. McMillian told you.”

Judy only shook her head then asked, “Are there any news?” Lorraine shook her head. “I’m really sorry and I came here unloading on you like that. I just didn’t know where to go. Jake has been a miss all day, and Maria didn’t even show up at school and I keep calling her but she doesn’t pick up.”

“Everyone mourns in their own way.” Aiden spoke for the first time, “They need time.”

Judy nodded and stayed with Lorraine for a couple of hours. She told them that they didn’t release Mike’s body from the morgue even though they had finished the autopsy. “Apparently, the Normans think the sheriff’s department is hiding something, they aren’t sure what it is though.” She said with a shake of her head, “I mean they have a point, they haven't seen the body until now.”

Aiden’s phone rang, he shared a look with Lorraine and she made the guess that it was either Bates or Cedric updating them. She turned to Judy, “I’m sorry about Mike, he was a great guy and I’m sure he is in a better place.”

“It was just horrible. The way he died …” Judy started another wave of sobs, and Lorraine tried to comfort her as much as she could, but she wasn’t sure for how long she could do it.

Aiden entered the room again, looking at Lorraine. “We have to go.”

Judy gave a questioning look and Lorraine was the first to answer. “Mr. Bright has been helping me, so he hired a PI. They have news about my mom, so we should meet them.”

Judy nodded her understanding, “Of course. If there are any updates, tell me.” She got up, “I think I’ll head to the Tavern, I need a drink or several.”

Lorraine furrowed her eyebrows worriedly as they stood by her front door, “Maybe this isn’t wise, Judy. I mean with everything.”

“It’s because of everything that I need the drink.” Judy added with a sad smile, “I just hope Ben is there, he’s my only way to get anything.” Lorraine recognized the name, he was a bartender in The Tavern, who seemed to give a special kind of attention to Judy whenever she was around. Lorraine wasn’t even sure it was legal; Ben was almost twenty. She tried to convince Judy not to go, but her mind was already made up.

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She arrived at Bates’ house with Aiden. The air between them was still awkward, but none of them spoke of their almost kiss. Aiden argued with himself that he didn't want to talk about it because it wasn't the right time. However, there was also a part of him worried about rejection; he didn't know how it would affect him or their friendship if she outright rejected him. All those thoughts seemed to disappear when he heard the conversation going on inside the house. His mood became gloomy and his body stiffened as he walked behind Lorraine into the house. Cedric and Bates were arguing about something. “She has to be there.” That was the first thing she heard Cedric say when she arrived. His tone didn’t seem to give much room for argument. She knew they were talking about her.

“It’s too dangerous.” Bates argued back, ignoring her presence.

She cleared her throat and stood between the two men, “If this is about me, then I get to make the decision.” She turned to Cedric with firm eyes, “What do I have to do?”