Chapter Fifty Five: Mirage

Cedric let out an annoyed breath as he sat in his Mustang with John beside him. Neither had said the word to the other for the past ten minutes. While Cedric was lost in his own thoughts, curiosity about the McMillian family still fresh in his mind. The scene of that blonde woman talking on the phone played in his mind again. *“Benjamin has to do something about it.”* He remembered that particular part.

“Are the McMillians friends with the Huxley family?” Cedric asked, interrupting the silence since he parked in a hidden spot to watch the motel, where Mark stayed.

John was slightly startled by the question. He turned towards Cedric, who kept his eyes ahead, with furrowed eyebrows, “They are two of the oldest families in town, I don’t know whether they’re friends, but I would assume so.” Cedric only grunted as a reply, and John was about to ask for the reason behind his question, but Cedric fired another one.

“What do you know about the McMillian family then?”

“If you’re wondering if they’re humans or not, then I believe they are. Steven McMillian was born and lived in this town until he finished high school.” John guessed that Cedric was asking because of the whole Judy’s fiasco. He decided to continue, “He left for college, stayed there for over ten years, and he came back with his wife, Melissa. She was already pregnant with Judy.” John then gave a shrug, “At least that’s what my parents told me.”

“What about Melissa? Do you know anything about her family?”

“Are you suspicious of them?” John finally asked. “I mean, no one knows much about Melissa, but for the time she’s been around nothing weird has happened. So, I guess she’s pretty normal too.”

Before Cedric could ask anymore questions, they saw Mark approaching the entrance of the motel. With a vampire, he recognized as Dave, the one Aiden had freed from his capture. Following behind them was a woman with dark skin, and brown hair. Cedric couldn’t help but wonder if she was the witch Wilmut had seen. “I didn’t know they had another witch.” John commented. “I thought they only had Victoria.” Cedric didn’t give much of a reply, his ears focused on the mumbled conversation between the three.

“How long is it until the Blood Moon?” He heard Mark asking, sounding very impatient and even on edge.

“Just two weeks.” The witch retorted.

“Shouldn’t we find his body before the Blood Moon thought?” Dave asked with a hesitant and slightly weak voice.

“Are you questioning Victoria, Dave? Are you sure you …?” The witch’s voice died down as they moved further into the motel. Cedric could hear the threat in her voice, the warning it held for the vampire to heed. It was almost like Dave had a bad experience with Victoria.

Cedric decided that he heard enough. The Blood Moon was in two weeks, and before that they needed to know what the spells required. In case they couldn’t retrieve the Vancsura grimoire, and Aiden could convince Mark to switch sides, they would need to hinder the requirements of the spell. He started the engine with the decision to drop John off at Bates’ then he would need to go to her. *“We need to talk.”* He decided to himself. Another thing, which occupied his mind, was the body the three had talked about. *“Erik.”* He decided. “*The one who would know where the body is, would be Wilmut.”*

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Lorraine was on her bed, the Jonas grimoire sprawled in front of her. She knew she couldn’t practice magic at home; it was too risky. However, she knew she must find the potion that was given to Aiden. Part of it was out of curiosity, but she still believed that knowledge is power. Lorraine needed every single thing that could give her power. The night’s chilly wind came with the smell of his cologne as he manifested himself in front of her.

She wouldn’t say she was overly surprised by his visit. In fact, she was becoming more accustomed to his late-night visits. The expectations they would build in her only for them to be crashed down by the morning’s sun. She let out a breath, didn’t bother to look up from her book. Yes, she was still bitter. His words remained fresh in her mind, her doubts couldn’t be settled, and her heart still ached. “What brought you here, Cedric? Another accusation you’d like to throw my way. Maybe an insult?”

*“Her cold and distant tone is way worse than her anger.”* He thought as he approached her. He wasn’t good with apologies. It wasn’t something he excelled at, but he knew he needed to. Cedric knew he was way out of line, that he hurt her in so many ways. “You didn’t get over it yet?” He asked in a low voice. He wanted to smack himself, he really did. There were many things he could have said, but he said that.

She looked up at him with disbelieving and furious eyes, “Are you serious? Get over it? You accuse me of leading Aiden on, you use me to bring back your ex, while giving me all sorts of mixed signals, and you expect me to get over it?” She shut the grimoire in front of her loudly, then jolt up of the bed, standing face to face with him. “If you, only for a second, that I’m using you, would you get over it?”

A moment of silence passed between the two, a long one, as they both stared at each other. Cedric let out a breath, “I’m sorry.” Lorraine almost stumbled back with how shocked she was. The remorse in his tone could be easily heard, and the way his eyes were filled with regret tucked at her heart. She hated this. “I didn’t mean what I said. I’m stupid, narcissistic, with serious anger issues. I spit things out, and most of the times I don’t mean them!” His voice was elevated with the frustration brewing in his heart and mind. There were many feelings he wanted to convey to her, but he was at lack for words. “I fucking care about you. I think I might be in love with you, and that drives me crazy!”

Lorraine stood there, eyes wide and frozen, shell-shocked at his admission. She didn’t know how she could ever retort to that. They had this back-and-forth game. They would kiss, she’d feel like she had the world in her hands, then it would seep from between her fingers like the desert’s sand. Cedric felt like a mirage, one that only gave her pain. “I loved Darla, but I love you.” he continued after watching her silence. “I want to be with you, but I want to do her justice. She died because of me!”

She didn’t know what she should do. She didn’t know whether to be elated or absolutely broken. From the beginning she knew Cedric came with his baggage, one she wasn’t sure she would be able to carry; she didn’t even consider carrying. She let out a breath, looked him in the eyes, “Tell me about it. Tell me what happened to her.” He could see a glimpse of hope in her request. That she might give him a chance. Cedric finally knew what he wanted, and if he wanted something, he would usually get it.